Shocking spike in fuel prices is hurting all of us. Click here.
When it comes to adding warmth and charm without the mess or hassle of logs and embers, many people are discovering the ease and style of a gas fireplace. One thing that always surprises people is the realistic look and actual warmth of a gas fireplace. After all, this is no plastic log over a lightbulb! The gas logs in a gas fireplace are made from cement, ceramic or ceramic fiber blends that are carefully crafted and painted to look just like real wood logs. You can even specify a species of wood! So how do gas logs work? Those realistic-looking logs are fitted with small pipes that release gas, a lot like the burners on your stove.
Gas logs are made to withstand high heat and should last for five-to-ten years, depending on how much you use your gas fireplace, and if you keep up with maintenance.
But the best part about a gas fireplace is that you don’t need a chimney to use them. The pros at Southwest Virginia Gas Service can make it easy to add a gas fireplace to virtually any room in your Virginia home, all thanks to ventless and direct vent designs.
Direct vent and vent-free gas fireplace technology are two great ways to add a gas fireplace even if you don’t have a chimney or flue. All that’s needed is access to propane gas.
Ventless models have a regulator that produces a fine gas-air mix that allows the gas to burn cleanly, and reduces the fumes associated with traditional gas fireplaces.
With direct venting, a single dual-chambered pipe is installed directly through a wall to the outdoors. The pipe simultaneously draws air for the fire from the outdoors, while it expels the fire’s combustion byproducts to the outside.
With minimal space requirements between the fireplace and wallboard or wood, a gas hearth can be installed almost anywhere. That means you can incorporate cozy charm into just about any room, including living rooms and family rooms, but also kitchens and dining rooms. Create your dream master suite or a spa-like bathroom escape, just by adding a gas fireplace.
You can also convert traditional fireplaces to a maintenance-free propane hearth with a gas log insert.
Propane-fueled fireplaces add ambiance—but they also provide efficient supplemental heat without the mess, smoke, and ash of a wood-burning fireplace. And a gas hearth is much safer, too. No more playing with matches and waiting for tricky kindling to catch—you can turn on and adjust the flame with a wall switch or even a remote control and turn it off when you are done. No waiting for embers to burn out or worrying that they will flare up again.
Nothing beats the cozy charm and ambiance of a fireplace. Let the team at SWVA show you how easy and affordable installing a gas fireplace or stove can be. We service and install everything we sell, and we stand by our work.
Want to see our selection of products? Come by our Radford, VA showroom to see your options and experience how realistic a gas hearth can be. Contact us for more information today, and kick back by your own fireplace before the holidays.
When the weather gets wild and the power lines go down, are you prepared? We get plenty of thunderstorms in the summer, along with the occasional hurricanes plus and ice and snow in winter. And we get our share of tornadoes, too.
Adding a backup propane generator is a power move when it comes to protecting your family and your home. Here are 15 facts about propane generators that you need to know. It can help you decide whether your home would benefit from the option of backup power!
A power outage lasting any longer than an hour or two can quickly shift from inconvenience to crisis—and an expensive one, too. A standby propane generator will keep your home and family safe, while saving you money and adding value to your home.
The pros at SWVA have the experience and training to connect the lines to your propane tank, so it powers up your home without damaging your home’s electronic equipment or appliances. And we can provide you with safe and reliable propane delivery, too.
Contact us today for more information.
How many times have you replaced the portable propane tank on your grill? Truth be told, it’s not too hard to do. Make sure the gas is off, disconnect the empty tank, and connect the new one.
On the other hand, replacing or installing a full-size propane tank that holds a couple of hundred gallons is no DIY project. Of course, when your full-size tank runs low, you don’t need to replace the whole tank—SWVA Gas Service provides reliable propane delivery service to Radford, VA, and the surrounding communities. But sometimes, you need to replace or swap out your existing tank. Whether you need to install a new tank or replace an old one, the pros at SWVA Gas Service have the expertise to handle everything for you, safely and properly.
To start, there are just a couple of upfront decisions you’ll need to make if you are considering a new propane tank.
The easiest way to go if you’re replacing an old tank is to use the same setup as the new one. But if it’s a new propane tank, here’s what to consider:
If you are replacing an existing tank, consider whether your needs have changed. If you’ve added new gas appliances, put an addition on your home, or even have more people living with you than when you first got your tank, you may use more propane. Maybe you’ve noticed you must order propane more often—a sure sign your tank is too small.
Getting a bigger tank means you’ll need fewer refills, reduce the risk of a runout, and even avoid or lessen the sting of price spikes.
But a bigger tank is, well, bigger! You’ll need space to bury it. And if it’s above ground, a huge tank can be less attractive. We can help you determine the best size propane tank for your needs based on the size of your Radford area home as well as how many appliances you’ll be fueling.
Once you’ve made your decisions about size and location, you can sit back and let SWVA take care of everything else. From permits to lighting your pilots after your first fill-up, we’ll make it look as easy as changing out your grill cylinder.
We will perform testing and safety inspections, light pilot lights, check appliances for proper operation and answer any questions you may have about the tank installation, service arrangements, or delivery schedules.
When we’re done, you’ll understand why homeowners and businesses throughout the southwest Virginia area trust SWVA to provide reliable propane service for more than 50 years. Whether you decide on an aboveground or underground propane tank, know that our team can make selecting, installing, and maintaining your tank easy. And we’ll provide reliable propane delivery services, too.
Contact us for more information today.
Switching out a portable propane tank on your grill is easy. Replacing or installing a full-size propane tank that holds a couple hundred gallons is no DIY project. Whether you need to install a new tank or replace an old one, SVWA Gas Service has the expertise to handle everything for you, and we’ll make sure the job is done safely and properly.
While you can trust us to take care of everything, there are a few upfront decisions you’ll need to make if you are considering a new propane tank:
If your propane storage tank is too small, you’ll need to order propane too often—or risk the cost and hassle of runouts. Getting a big tank means you’ll need fewer refills—and you may be able to avoid or lessen the sting of price spikes. But a bigger tank is, well, bigger—so you’ll need space to bury it. And if it’s aboveground, a huge tank can be far less attractive at your residential home. We can help you determine the best size for your needs based on the size of your home as well as how many appliances you’ll be fueling.
If you’re replacing an old tank, it may make the most sense to keep the same set-up. But if it’s a new propane tank outright—or you want to change from what you had before, here’s what to consider:
Once you’ve made your decisions about size and location, we’ll take care of the rest, from permits to lighting your pilots after your first fill-up!
For almost 80 years, SWVA Gas Service has been providing reliable fuel service to homes all over Southwestern Virginia. Whether you decide on an aboveground or underground propane tank, know that the pros at SWVA can make selection, installation, and maintenance of your tank easy. And we’ll provide reliable propane delivery services, too.
Contact us for more information today.
Summertime is well known as the peak grilling season here in Southern Virginia. So, be sure to keep these safety tips in mind before you transport propane, or light up the grill and enjoy great times outside with family, friends, and delicious food.
Are you still using a clunky, old charcoal grill? Make the switch to a propane grill and enjoy instant start-ups, no chemical fumes, and precise temperature control for the perfect summertime meal. We offer convenient tank refills, too! Stop by our Radford showroom or contact us today for more information.
Since 1945, SWVA Gas Service has built a reputation of providing our customers with delivery they can count on for their home or business. We’re locally owned and operated here in Radford, VA, so we understand the needs of our neighbors and will go the extra mile in a way no other propane service provider can!
When it comes to home value, you may not be able to change the location, but you can do a variety of things to add value. Boosting curb appeal with a nice door or a welcoming porch and good landscaping are easy DIY projects. Making sure your heating systems are efficient and upgrading appliances is another good way to increase the value of your home and make it stand out if you’re looking to sell.
While it’s not usually featured on the home makeover shows because it’s not “eye candy,” considering the systems and fuels that run your new home can be undeniably important. If you’ve never lived in a propane-fueled home before, you might be surprised to know all the benefits. Propane is one of the cleanest, most versatile, and most efficient fuels around. It’s a domestically sourced alternative fuel that can provide exceptional performance and efficiency in a wide range of home appliances, as well as heating and water-heating equipment, at a much lower cost than electricity.
Truth be told, propane may not have an overwhelming influence on the price of your home, but it can affect the comfort of the buyer in many ways. Let’s get you familiar with all those benefits it can bring:
Propane generates more Btus than an equivalent amount of electricity, so you need much less propane to produce the same amount of heat or energy. That means propane appliances are very efficient, so they waste very little fuel in the combustion process. On the other hand, about two-thirds of the energy used by a power plant to generate and transmit electricity is wasted.
In other words, propane is a win-win for customers who care about the environment, but also want to keep costs under control.
Because propane is so efficient, it’s a smarter choice than electricity for a wide variety of appliances. For example, propane water heaters generate much more hot water at a cheaper cost per gallon. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes that heat water with propane rather than electricity can see average annual savings of $174 or more.
The same technology that makes propane ideal for water heaters makes it a smarter choice than electricity to power all kinds of appliances that use hot water or heat:
…and many more!
What’s another benefit that adds value? When storms knock out power, a propane-fueled backup generator will keep your lights and everything else running until the utility companies can make repairs. Many insurance plans will offer discounts on your homeowner’s insurance plan if you install a standby generator. That’s because, like a security system, a generator helps protect your property. SWVA Gas Service can help run the necessary lines for your new backup system. Give us a call today to learn more!
There’s a reason gas is the choice of professional chefs, hands down. The high degree of control and precise temperatures you get with a gas range can’t be beaten—and propane grills offer the same control, plus are much cleaner and easier to use. Want to really pump up the value of your home: Consider an outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill!
When it comes to environmental impact, propane gas is a good choice. It burns cleanly and produces minimal emissions. Propane also doesn’t harm soil or groundwater – an important factor when it comes to determining whether fuel is “green.”
Propane leaks are easy to detect due to their strong rotten egg odor (thanks to the Ethyl Mercaptan that manufacturers add to the naturally odorless gas). If you detect the odor of propane, know what to do. Additionally, propane will not ignite until the air reaches 940° F. In fact, propane has the lowest flammability range of all alternative fuels. There must be a very specific combination of propane and oxygen for propane to burn.
Whether you are refurbishing your existing home, building your dream house, or just looking for ways to reduce your fuel bills, propane provides great value. The team of Pros at SWVA Gas Service can help make adding propane to your New River, Radford, Roanoke, or Christiansburg area home easy, with great services like automatic delivery, tank monitoring, smart payment plans to help keep costs manageable and so much more.
Contact us today for more information.
When it comes to service, we’re always looking for ways to make it easy for you. For a half-century, we’ve been serving communities in the New River Valley through good times and bad. We know how much the recent price spikes are hurting everyone—it hurts us too. But while we can’t control the supply chain or the geopolitics that are driving propane prices higher, we can offer our customers ways to take the sting out of propane prices—and make their day-to-day a little easier too.
Our Budget Plan is a smart way to manage propane costs and eliminate unexpected high invoices, no matter how cold it gets or how much fuel you use. Customers love this plan even when prices are low.
The point is to keep your fuel costs level and manageable, so even if we have a particularly harsh winter or prices spike, you’ll avoid big fluctuations and surprise high bills.
We know you’re busy. Life is more hectic than ever. The last thing you need is an extra item on your to-do list. That’s where our convenient, free Automatic Delivery service can help.
It’s not hard to run down to run outside to check the gauge on your propane tank…but it’s an easy task to forget. The next thing you know, you’ve run out of fuel. Automatic deliveries mean you don’t have to remember to check your tank or schedule propane deliveries because we’ll do it for you. You don’t even need to be home on delivery day! You also eliminate the potential need—and cost—of a pressure test if your propane tank goes completely empty.
Like the way we calculate your Budget Plan, we use an algorithm based on your average usage patterns and the weather conditions to calculate when to schedule your deliveries to make sure you always have propane. Automatic Deliveries also means better service. When customers enroll in automatic delivery, it helps us schedule our fuel delivery routes efficiently so we can serve more of our customers on any given day. That also helps us keep costs down.
Ready to sign up for savings and convenience? Contact us today for more information.
Summer is the peak season for outdoor entertaining—or maybe it’s just about getting out of the kitchen! In either case, if you’ve been thinking your grilling game is ready for an upgrade, SWVA Gas Service is here to help add some new sizzle to your deck or patio. Now’s the perfect time to get set up to make outdoor gatherings fun and easy.
A propane grill offers unparalleled control, plus a wide range of accessories and add-ons such as multilevel grills, griddle attachments, side burners, rotisserie, and more. Free-standing cart-style propane grills can offer almost as many options for smaller spaces. Whether you’re looking to create a deluxe outdoor kitchen and entertaining space, or just need to replace your old grill, SWVA offers a full range of Broilmaster grills from basic, classic styles to deluxe built-in units.
In addition to the precise temperature control that comes with a propane grill, you also enjoy ease and convenience. No waiting for the charcoal to heat up; no watching to make sure they stay hot. In just minutes, your grill is ready to go. Food comes out great, with no smoky smell or flavor that can overwhelm foods such as fish or fruit.
And cleanup is made easy as well. No ashes, no worries about smoldering coals. When you’re done, just turn off the grill and the gas supply, do a quick cleaning of the grates and you’re good to go.
With a built-in propane grill and reliable propane delivery from SWVA, you’ll always be ready to go—no running out of charcoal—and our experienced propane service technicians will safely and properly connect any new built-in gas grill to your home’s propane supply.
Prefer to use a propane cylinder? Take advantage of our convenient cylinder refilling station at our office in Radford. Let SWVA help you make your backyard a destination. Stop by our showroom or contact us for more information today.
If you’ve never run out of propane, you may not know what a huge hassle it is. Depending on what you use it for, you may not have hot water, you can’t cook or dry your laundry, and you could lose your whole home heating, too. In the instance of a run-out, we’ll often be asked why we need to perform—and charge for—a pressure test when they let their propane tank hit empty. It doesn’t seem like it should be a such big deal—why can’t we just fill up the tank?
It’s all about safety. Propane piping and fittings are coated with a pipe joint compound that seals connections and prevents leaks. When you run out of fuel, the pressure in the lines will change. And when the pressure changes, the joint compound could contract and create a leak. While propane is completely safe under most conditions, it can be highly flammable, so leaking propane lines can be dangerous. In fact, pressure tests are required by state and federal law, as well as insurance rules.
That’s why it’s important that we conduct a pressure test to make sure everything is operating safely when we refill your tank after a runout. We also do this test when we install a new tank or appliance.
The best way to avoid the hassle of runout is to sign up for our free Automatic Delivery service. SWVA customers overwhelmingly choose Automatic Delivery for propane deliveries because it eliminates all the work and all the worries. Our computerized system monitors the weather conditions and keeps track of your fuel usage patterns so we know when to schedule a delivery for you, and you always have the propane you need.
If you prefer will-call for propane deliveries, you’re responsible for monitoring your tank levels, and if you run out, we will have to perform and charge you for a test. Keep an eye on your tank and remember to call when you have about a quarter (25%) tank. That ensures we can get you on the schedule and make delivery in plenty of time!
Want to learn more about why homeowners and businesses in the southwestern Virginia area trust SWVA Gas for top-notch service and fair prices? Contact us for more information today.
Unsurprisingly, we’ve been getting many calls around two connected issues: the surge in fuel prices and supply concerns. People are astounded by how much prices have risen and how fast. So are we. They are also concerned that there will be interruptions in supply that will cause them to run out of fuel.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine shocked energy markets, sending crude oil to record territory and spiking all energy prices. We’ve had increases from our propane suppliers of over 40 cents per gallon already, and that might be out of date by the time you read this.
We don’t know where things will go from here. One thing we can tell you is that we hate this as much as you do. Some people are under the misconception that when prices rise, we make more money. The opposite is true. People cut back usage. They have trouble paying their bills, and our receivables skyrocket. Meanwhile, we must pay our suppliers in just ten days. We must borrow much more from the bank. It is an awful mess for everyone.
We have been in business for many years and have very strong relationships with suppliers and financial institutions. We are already getting calls from customers who are with other companies that can’t say the same. These customers are unable to get deliveries for 20 days out. You don’t have to worry about that with us.
If you are having trouble paying your bill, talk to us before it becomes a problem. Many times, we can work out something to give you more time, especially if you’ve been with us a while. We can also set you up on a monthly payment plan.
Nothing will make us happier than when prices start dropping. Until then, trust us to look out for you, and let’s pray for the people of Ukraine.
