Separate the Facts from the Hype and Cook with Confidence—and Propane

propane stove miami, fl There’s so much to consider when building or buying a new home. Some things are subjective and personal, such as architectural style, but others are more practical. Choosing a kitchen range is one of those. Of course, appearance and features are part of the decision, but so is efficiency—and performance, and that’s where propane stands out.

But what about all the reports in the media about gas stoves impacting indoor air quality? While the stories have prompted talk of banning gas stoves altogether, much of the information getting so much hype has been misleading. While natural gas stoves can potentially emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas, propane contains no methane. And, the fact is, cooking of any kind creates particulate matter and affects indoor air quality, no matter what fuel is used.

4 Advantages of Propane Gas Stoves

Not only is your propane stove safe, it’s great at its job—and makes you a better chef. Tune into any cooking show, and you’ll never see a chef futzing with trying to heat a pot of skillet over an electric coil. Peek into the kitchen of your favorite restaurant—or sit at a chef’s table with a view of the culinary action—and you’ll see a gas-fired range. But you don’t need to be a professional chef to appreciate the benefits of cooking with a propane stove. Here’s how they compare:

  1. Control. An electric range will never provide the same control as cooking with gas. Think about why you opt for a propane grill instead of charcoal: you can adjust your flame with the turn of a knob. An electric burner doesn’t respond as quickly, taking more time to reduce or increase the heat. That means you can sear food quickly without overcooking it, and you can keep a delicate sauce at a subtle simmer without scorching.
  2. Cost. Propane burns extremely efficiently: it 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 cooking with propane can be significantly less expensive than cooking with electricity.
  3. Reliability. Propane is a convenient, reliable fuel. You’ll always have a ready supply—on hand, at your home. It works when the power is out, too, which means you can heat up some soup while you wait for the utility company to restore power. (Propane is great for running a whole-house generator, too, speaking of outages!)
  4. Domestic. Propane is also an American energy source. About 90% of the United States’ supply of propane is domestically generated. Most of it comes from the processing of natural gas—which is considered a greenhouse gas when burned. Propane is not considered a greenhouse gas.

The Bottom Line

Whether for cooking or heating, or fueling a variety of equipment in your home, propane is very safe, thanks to strong government regulation and high industry standards. Not only is propane safe, when it comes to environmental impact, propane gas is one of the cleanest and most efficient fuels around. It produces minimal emissions. Another important factor when it comes to evaluating whether a fuel is “green”: Propane also doesn’t harm soil or groundwater.

Ready to get cooking with gas? The pros at Pico Propane can answer all your questions and help make adding a propane range and other appliances to your south Florida home easy. Contact us today for more information.

Find Out Why It’s Propane for the Win for Your Business

forklift tank service miami, FL Whether you’re purchasing office supplies or making equipment upgrades, you have to keep one eye on the bottom line and the other on maintaining the quality and service your customers expect. If you rely on forklifts in your business, such as warehouse management, construction, or manufacturing, you may be considering your options when it comes to power, efficiency and fuel costs. For extra-heavy-duty jobs and rugged outdoor terrain, diesel-run equipment makes sense. But for most other work, you need to compare propane-powered forklifts with electric. Both options offer a cleaner-burning alternative to diesel-powered equipment. While the price of propane and electricity can fluctuate with the market and demand, the rising cost of electricity is leveling the field compared to propane.

Depending on how and where you operate forklifts—and what other equipment you use, there are distinct benefits to propane-fueled forklifts.

Here’s our guide to the pros and cons of propane-powered forklifts vs electric forklifts.

Pros of Electric Forklifts:

  • Low maintenance costs because there are fewer moving parts
  • Zero emissions, good for indoor spaces
  • Very quiet to operate
  • No need to store fuel on site
  • Lower center of balance, better turn ratios and better rear-view visibility

Cons of Electric Forklifts

  • Not ideal for outdoor/wet operations
  • Not ideal for steady/constant operation
  • More downtime for charging—8 hours plus cool-down time
  • Batteries lose power as they drain, and drain faster with heavier loads
  • Expensive up-front costs
  • Requires ventilation around charging areas
  • Need to install eyewash stations
  • May require upgraded higher-voltage lines

Cons of Propane Forklifts

  • Require regular maintenance—tune-ups, oil changes, etc.
  • Require a designated area and racks for cylinder storage
  • Emit small amounts of carbon dioxide, so not ideal for extended use in unventilated spaces
  • Noisier than electric models

Pros of Propane Forklifts

  • Operate at 100% power as long as there’s propane in the cylinder
  • Replacing cylinders takes just a few minutes—that’s less off the job
  • Better at handling heavier loads and more capable when it comes to inclines.
  • Propane is versatile, and can power other equipment you may use besides forklifts: welding equipment, commercial mowers, asphalt heaters, pressure washers, small cranes, water pumps, floor buffers and more.
  • Longer equipment life overall
  • Cylinder exchange programs ensure easy, on-site supplies

The Convenience of Propane

A reliable propane cylinder exchange program makes managing your forklift operations automatic. Pico Propane’s knowledgeable team will partner with you to evaluate your needs and ensure you always have full tanks on site and ready to go. We’ll set you up with sturdy, safe storage cages, as well as thorough and certified safety training for your employees.

Let Pico Propane’s commercial propane team tailor a program that will grow with your business—and help your business grow, thanks to the efficiency and power or propane. Contact us today to learn more!

The Reliable Fuel with No Shelf Life

propane expiration miami, fl If you’re a snowbird and you’ve left a car sitting with a tank full of gas for an extended period of time, you may have learned the hard way that, after about six months, its chemical properties of gasoline change and it won’t burn properly. Propane, on the other hand, never “goes bad.” That’s why propane is a smart choice for whole-house generators: You get the peace of mind that it’s always going to work when you need it.

Of course, it’s just one of many reasons why propane is a smart choice for all kinds of appliances and equipment in your home, like water heaters, home heating systems and laundry machines, which you use regularly, but also for those you use sporadically, like space heaters, pool heaters and firepits or fireplaces.

Propane Storage

While propane can’t expire, it’s important that your storage tank is maintained properly to avoid any problems. If you lease your propane storage tank from us, you don’t have to worry, we take care of this for you.

We provide expert, safe installation and maintenance of your propane storage tank, including moving or leveling it, if necessary, such as after a storm, as well as performing required pressure checks following any leaks or runouts.

When to comes to portable propane cylinders, however, you need to make certain that it conforms to Department of Transportation (DOT) safety standards. All DOT portable propane tanks must be recertified for use every 5 or 10 years, depending on the cylinder type, condition and previous recertification method.

Propane in the Heat

Extreme heat can cause propane to expand and increase the pressure in the tank, particularly if you have an above-ground storage tank. That’s why propane tanks are required to be painted in light-reflective colors, such as white, gray, and silver. This helps them stay cool. Dark colors attract and retain heat. This is true for large tanks as well as for the portable cylinders you use with a grill or an RV.

When weather is extremely hot—as we saw this summer—you can use your garden hose to spray your tank with cool water. This will help lower the pressure and temperature inside the tank. If the pressure does increase, an emergency valve will release gas safely into the air.

Tank Location

The location of your storage tank is important too—and not just for aesthetic reasons. If it isn’t buried, your tank needs to be on a stable base, typically a concrete slab, and positioned away from sources of heat. When we install your tank, we ensure it’s set up and positioned safely and adhering to all regulations.

Reliable Fuel, Reliable Service

As a local company with more than 70 years’ experience, Pico Propane are the pros that Miami residents trust for propane deliveries, appliance and equipment installations, maintenance and more. We’ve got the knowledge, skills and resources and can answer all your questions about the benefits of propane for your home or business. Get in touch with us today to learn more.

Our area is expected to experience increasingly cold temperatures over the holiday weekend. For more information, please visit: https://www.weather.gov/.

We anticipate potential delays in completing propane deliveries our areas as we prioritize our emergency service requests. Additionally, our offices will be closed in observance of the Christmas Holiday on Monday, 12/26, as well as Monday, 1/2.

In case of emergency, please contact: 954-932-4940. Thank you—and have a very happy holiday!