Propane Tips for the First Time Homeowner – PT 10

Preparing to purchase your first home can be one of the most exciting times of your life. Perhaps you’ve considered many options, patiently searched for the right home, and also consulted numerous friends and professionals. After all, smart decisions made at the time of purchasing your first home will pay off dividends for many years.

You owe it to yourself to know the right questions to ask. Here are some items for you to consider and why propane is the best energy source for your new home.

First of all, you’ll be pleased to learn propane powered furnaces last longer with experts estimating a life span of 15 to 20 years. Compared to electric heat pumps, that’s approximately 5 to 10 years longer.

Propane will also save you money every month in the laundry room of your new home. According to the U.S. Dept of Energy, propane dryers are cost effective with an average saving of 50% per month over an electric dryer. Most first time homeowners are surprised to learn that propane’s humid or moist heat is actually better for their clothes over time. Fashion experts cite that electric heat can actually discolor or even burn clothes due to the dry harshness of the heat.

Over time, the saving add up however there are many other excellent reasons for choosing propane.

In planning for the future, should you ever decide to sell your home, the green energy benefits of propane will ensure your home retains its value in the marketplace. Propane is the energy of the future and will retain equity in your home. In addition, there are rebates and tax credits to reward you for making the intelligent decision and selecting propane appliances.

Question: We’re planning to purchase our first home in the Texas Hill Country and I’m setting up an artist studio.  Given the nature that I’m going to have a number of kilns running for pottery, I am going to be using a lot of propane to power these; can I hook up multiple tanks in a series?

Terry Garnett: You can connect multiple tanks in a series, however many times I prefer to calculate the total number of gallons required, and provide one tank that will fit those needs.

Question: We currently have an above ground tank on a property we just purchased from a developer. Although its a brand new home, we would like to have an underground tank as we understand that this will be out of sight.  Can we use the current tank and just put it underground?

Terry Garnett: That’s a great question and we get asked that a lot.  No, you cannot.  We talked about this earlier. Under the lid are many of the service valves utilized for the propane tank, however, one very important valve -the relief valve- is not located under the lid.  It is actually located on the body of the tank on an above ground tank.

So if you bury an above ground tank, you bury the relief valve.

On an underground tank, extensions are put on all valves to bring them above ground level.  So, you cannot use an above ground taken for an underground tank.  They are two different tanks.

Question: My husband and I are building our first home and we are planning to use propane.  We are trying to schedule all the jobs and all the contractors, how much time do we need to schedule to have a propane tank built in underground?

Terry Garnett: When you begin the process of construction, find your propane provider and then start scheduling the project with them. A reputable and experienced firm will walk you through it.

Terry Garnett’s Propane has been serving Central Texas communities for over 30 years. Call Terry Garnett’s Propane at 512-484-4480 (or toll free 1-800-950-8289) for professional installation and expert guidance to help you make the most of your new water heater.

Propane Tips: The Benefits of Propane Water Heaters – PT 9

A recent Google search returned 328,000 pages for the search query “propane water heaters“. Propane water heaters are a hot item. Consider the financial benefits with increased ease and comfort; it’s no wonder that homeowners are making the switch to propane powered water heaters.

Let’s take a quick look at a few facts and benefits of a propane powered water heater for your family.

First of all, technology has delivered advances to the design and efficiency of propane water heaters. Combine these advances with efficient flow-restricting shower heads and you’re quickly saving up to 50% of the hot water required per shower.

Did you know that a propane water heater produces 50 to 70 percent fewer carbon emissions that a electric water heater? It’s not a surprise that government incentives and federally funded programs have been put in place to encourage environmentally sound replacements for electric water heaters.

Whether heating water for showers, dishwashers, or doing the family laundry, a propane water heater will provide more accurate temperature adjustments. In addition, many homeowners are pleased to learn that propane water heaters require smaller storage space requirements than their electric counterparts.

With long term value also an important criteria, it’s good news to learn that propane water heaters are long lasting and provide more options for your specific family needs. There are more venting options, installation options, as well as more overall sizes to select from with a propane water heater.

Is it time to replace your water heater? Experts suggest considering a replacement if your water heater is more than seven years old. Another good tip is to make sure leaky faucets are repaired as soon as possible. You’d be surprised how fast the water is wasted in no time.

If you’ve got a busy household with a family of six with four teenagers, you may want to consider the benefits of a tankless on demand system. Tankless systems can cost more to install however tax credits and enhanced energy efficiency can offset and pay for the extra value.

When you are insulating your propane water heaters you want to remember not to cover the thermostat. In fact, it’s a smart idea to contact your local propane provider for assistance. Baths versus showers? It’s certainly a matter of personal preference however, on the average, less than 10 gallons of water is needed for a 3-5 minute shower instead of the 12-25 gallons for a hot bath.

Propane water heaters make financial sense and perhaps now is the time to plan updating your water heater. You’ll love the changes to your savings and your enjoyment of your home.

Terry Garnett’s Propane has been serving Central Texas communities for over 30 years. Call Terry Garnett’s Propane at 512-484-4480 (or toll free 1-800-950-8289) for professional installation and  expert guidance to help you make the most of your new water heater.

Propane Tips: Energy Efficient Home Credits for Builders and Contractors – PT 8

If you’re a builder or contractor installing propane powered heating and cooling systems in your residential projects, IRS Form 8908 just may be a welcome piece of news for your business at tax time.

The Energy Efficient Home Credit allows builders and contractors to claim a credit for each qualifying energy efficient residential home sold or leased to another person during the current tax year.

If you haven’t heard about the program, now is the time to take note and consult your tax professional and download Form 8908 from the IRS web site.

According to IRS Form 8908, an eligible contractor is the person that constructed a qualified energy efficient home (or produced a qualified energy efficient home that is a manufactured home). A person must own and have a basis in the qualified energy efficient home during its construction to qualify as an eligible contractor with respect to the home.

Fifty percent energy efficient standard.

The tax credits provide examples such as a credit of $2,000 for a dwelling unit that is certified to have an annual level of heating and cooling energy consumption of a comparable dwelling unit and has building envelope improvements that account for at least 1/5 of the 50% reduction in energy consumption.

In addition, the form also states an eligible contractor must obtain a certification that the dwelling unit meets the requirements of section 45L(c)(1) from an eligible certifier before claiming the section 45L credit.

Propane Tips: 2009 Stimulus Tax Incentives – PT 7

Have you been waiting for the right time to upgrade to propane appliances, install a new furnace, or propane water heater?

Whether you’ve heard about it in the news or not, now is the time to pay attention to some federal legislation that can bring savings to your family budget plus help you live better with clean, efficient propane.

The federal stimulus bill, or as its known by its formal title, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, is legislation that has been passed to help our economy recover in these economic times.

Buried within this massive 407 page document are some real gems – basic facts that are important to anyone who would like to benefit from the progressive tax incentives brought forth by this legislation.

If you’ve been putting off upgrading to a propane powered household now is the time to act. The legislation has a window of opportunity and if you replace those old energy draining appliances with super-efficient and clean propane appliances you’ll save money at both the time of purchase and also every month when you pay your energy bills.

Here’s why now is the time to act. The federal stimulus bill allows a 30 percent federal tax credit for homeowners who purchase new clean burning propane appliances that meet federal requirements.

There are a few important facts regarding eligibility for the 30 percent tax incentives:

- Your new appliances must be placed into services between January 1st, 2009 and December 31st, 2010.

- The upgraded appliances must be installed in the tax payers principal residence.

- The maximum amount that can be claimed for all products placed into service is $1500.00

- The $1,500 can be applied toward either equipment, labor, or materials

There are even more opportunities. You may be able to find more benefits via state incentive programs and propane organizational rebate programs. The stimulus bill also brings $300 million in new incentive money to the table. Research your local area since some homeowners will effectively qualify for two or more incentives on their electric to propane appliance switch overs.

How about first-time home buyers? Are there any special incentives for them? Yes, the federal stimulus bill has built in provisions that can help you get more home for the dollar via an $8000 tax credit available.

All a first-time home buyer need do is make the smart choice and purchase a home built with energy efficient propane appliances, furnances, or highly efficient propane water heaters and you can take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit.

Remember, the bill presents a limited window of opportunity; the cutoff date is December 31st, 2010!