Propane is a convenient fuel source for cooking. You can use it to heat your home, fuel barbecue grills, cook, dry clothes, or even power farm and industrial equipment. You can get propane delivery at almost any time, sometimes almost immediately.
Here are a few factors that may affect the speed of propane delivery and what you can do about it:
Factors Affecting Propane Delivery
If you rely on propane to keep your home warm and functional, you might need to know the factors affecting its supply. As the cold season approaches, the last thing you want is to deal with the frustrations of the delays once your tanks run out. Delivery can sometimes be at the mercy of several unavoidable factors and beyond our control.
Supplier Proximity
The distance your supplier will need to travel to get to you will affect the delivery time. If you’re close to your supplier, the chances of on-time delivery are high. That changes the farther you are from the nearest propane supplier. Suppliers tend to be situated in more centralized locations, especially in urban areas. They might take longer to travel the long distance to get to you if you live in a remote area.
Distance is often not a concern for propane suppliers with enough equipment. But if you’re far from your supplier, it’s advisable to organize in advance for delivery. Monitor your usage and make sure you plan before you run out.
Traffic
Besides distance, traffic congestion is another factor in delivering any product. A series of late deliveries across all businesses are familiar during rush hours. Even if you are located near the supplier, your delivery can potentially be late because of traffic problems. Traffic on some days can be worse than on others depending on the time of day and other unavoidable factors like accidents.
Technology has made it possible to get around traffic-related problems. Suppliers can use certain technologies to monitor propane usage and ensure faster deliveries when you are running low.
Unusual Weather Conditions
Bad weather conditions often disrupt normal freight and overall road operations. Even experienced drivers find it challenging to maneuver when roads become obstructed by inclement weather. Excessive rains, floods, and storms are good examples of situations that might cause delays. In the winter the roads become treacherous to use. The season brings ice, snow, and sometimes rain that can worsen road conditions for heavy commercial vehicles.
Suppliers understand that clients sometimes need more propane for heating during winter. They can adopt necessary measures to ensure faster propane delivery despite the conditions. With suppliers that plan ahead, you can count on them for on-time delivery at any time of the year.
Customers Served
The number of customers a supplier serves can impact their ability to deliver on time. The more customers and the larger the coverage area, the harder it becomes for timely deliveries. It can get worse in the cold seasons when the demand for propane increases. Some suppliers outmaneuver this problem by scaling up during peak periods. They hire more people and equipment to meet the surge in demand.
Try to identify when you might run out of propane and pre-buy your annual propane gallons from the supplier in advance. Planning and monitoring fuel levels can minimize the inconveniences that come with delayed deliveries or shortages.
Get Propane Delivery Fast
Start planning early for your propane needs to keep your home warm. Propane, unlike other utilities like water or gas, is not delivered to your home via pipeline. The delivery time is quick under normal circumstances. The factors mentioned above can cause a series of delays and can potentially lead to an increase in propane prices.
If you are living out in the countryside, suitable propane suppliers who understand your unique energy usage needs can ensure they deliver your propane on time.
Suppliers can use energy monitoring service packages to automate propane delivery for their customers. They can detect your tank levels and schedule automated delivery, so you never run out.
The alternative is monitoring your tanks and placing a call when you’re running low. It’s recommended that once your tank level hits a certain point, you need to call your supplier and schedule a delivery.
