Conserving Propane
If your business uses propane for heating, you will want to be diligent in finding ways to save on your heating bill without compromising the comfort of your employees. There are a few ways that you can try saving on your heating bill. Here are some ideas that you can try around your business to help keep the amount you are paying lower.
Draftiness
Have your maintenance department take a look at the windows and doors of your establishment to see if there are any gaps that are letting cold air inside the building. This can be checked from within the building using a candle. If there is any flickering when next to a door or window, that opening may need to be serviced.
A simple layer of caulk can do the trick in closing the gap between the window or door and the wall. Other methods would include using weather-stripping or expandable foam. If you do not have a maintenance department, these things can be easily done by someone else if they follow the packaging instructions.
Window Coverings
Using curtains on windows can keep the warm temperatures inside. Most businesses use blinds on their windows. You can still incorporate a respectable looking curtain that can be pulled shut during the hours that your business is closed. Thermal lined curtains work great at retaining heat.
If there are areas in your business that are not in the public eye, you can use plastic shrink-wrap on the window panes to help keep heat from escaping to the outdoors. This is applied to each pane and then heated with a hair dryer to shrink into place. The plastic stays on the window all winter long and can be removed in the spring when it starts to get warmer outdoors.
Heating Vents
If there are offices that are not being utilized, make sure that the heating vents in these rooms are in the off position. Keep the doors to these rooms shut, as well. This will help to redistribute the heat into areas where it is needed. The furnace will not need to run as long if there are areas that are not going to need heating. This will save you on the amount of propane that you will need to purchase.
Thermostat
You will not be able to keep your heat lower during the day when you have employees or customers in your building. Using a programmable thermostat will help to keep your heat lowered during hours where no one will be in the building. You can program the heat to come on an hour or two before employees arrive for work so that the temperature is at a comfortable level.
Talk to places like Fieldings Oil & Propane Co Inc. for more tips and information.