Grilling Safety

Every year, grilling fires cause injuries and property damage. Learn to grill safely.

Many people enjoy barbecuing in the summer months. But when grills are not used safely, things can go horribly wrong. Every year, fire departments respond to hundreds of fires involving grills, hibachis, and barbecues. These fires cause injuries and property damage. For safe grilling, always follow your owner’s manual and practice the safety tips provided here, as per MASS.gov

Grilling Safety Tips

• Always grill outdoors.
• Grills must be 10 feet from the side of a building unless the manufacturer’s instructions say it can be closer. Make sure grills are not underneath overhanging branches.
• Grills cannot be used on a porch, balcony or deck with a roof, overhang or wall (other than the exterior of the building).
• Grills can only be used on open first floor porches, decks or patios if there is an outdoor stairway to the ground, or the porch is at ground level.
• Grills cannot be used on fire escapes.
• Place grills away from the house and deck railings.
• Keep all matches, lighters and lighter fluid away from children.
• Keep children and pets three feet away from grills. Children should never play near grills or propane cylinders.

Gas Grill Safety

Safe Cooking 

• Open the grill lid when you light it. Propane can build up inside and when ignited, the lid may blow off.
• If you smell gas while cooking, turn off and get away from the grill. Call 911 from a safe location. Do not move the grill.
• Always turn off the burners and close the propane cylinder when done cooking.
• Never leave a burning grill unattended.

Handling Propane 

• Keep all propane outdoors, at least 10 feet away from building openings such as doors, windows and dryer vents, and 20 feet away from air intake vents and ignition sources.
• Do not smoke while handling a propane cylinder.
• Store propane cylinders upright in an outdoor, shaded area; do not leave cylinders in a vehicle; cylinders should not be used, stored, or transported where they can be exposed to high temperatures. 

Gas Grill Care and Maintenance 

Follow the instructions in your owner’s manual for the care and maintenance of your gas grill.

• Check that all connections are tight before turning on the gas.
• Detect leaks by dabbing the connections with a solution of soapy water and turning on the gas momentarily. If bubbles occur, there is a leak that must be fixed before the grill is used. Do not use matches or lighters to check for leaks.
• Check the tubes to the burners for blockages resulting from insect nests or from grease. Use a pipe cleaner or wire to clear blockages.
• Clean the grease trap every time you grill.
• Take tanks and grills that need repair to a propane dealer or a qualified appliance repair person.
• Replace propane cylinders that are old, rusty, or showing any other signs of disrepair.

READ MORE FROM MASS.GOV.

Advertisement

Cilantro Lime Grilled Shrimp

Seafood grilling ideas from closetcooking.com!

Shrimp in a tasty, light and fresh cilantro lime marinade that is grilled to perfection.

Cilantro and lime has to be one of my favourite flavour combos and my favourite way to enjoy it is on shrimp! I make cilantro lime shrimp year round but the summer is the best since you can do them on the grill. One of the great things about the cilantro and lime flavour combo, other than being tasty, is that it is so light and fresh and perfect for summer or reminding you of summer in the dead of winter. This recipe is really easy, you simply make the marinade, marinate the shrimp, skewer them and grill them. All said, excluding the marinate time, it takes less that 20 minutes from the time you start until you can be popping these bad boys into your mouth like candy! You can enjoy these shrimp by themselves or in other dishes like tacos, nachos, pasta, etc.

Read more here.

Safety Reminders

In light of our island’s recent events, Nantucket Energy reminds our community of homeowners and renters’ safety information. As a company, we take propane operations seriously.

1) If there is a propane gas smell at any time, it should be reported to your service provider immediately. If possible, shut the gas off at the tank or source of the leak if it is identifiable.

2) Licensed professionals should perform any new installations and/or repairs for heating and gas appliances.

3) Perform yearly maintenance checks on your heating systems by licensed professionals only.

4) When outside landscaping is planned, ensure all underground utilities are identified, i.e., electrical, gas, water/sewer, irrigation, during the installation of shrubs, trees, deer fences, etc. If there is an accidental cut of the gas line, the tank should be shut off immediately, and the service provider should be notified. Only a licensed gas fitter should make any necessary repairs.

We are your neighbors looking out for you 24/7/365

Phil Murray Business Award

The Phil Murray Business Award is given in memory of Philip Chase Murray to a business that has made a positive contribution to the island through the Nantucket Cottage Hospital. This year’s Phil Murray Business Award went to two island organizations: Phil Marks and Nantucket Energy, as well as the Community Foundation for Nantucket.

When the hospital’s coronavirus pandemic response ramped up in March, it put out a call to the community for supplies of PPE and other items in the event they would be needed during a surge of COVID-19 patients. So many community members stepped up, but one person who caught the attention of the hospital was Phil Marks, who was at the NCH loading dock almost immediately with a pallet of 30,000 gloves, as well as oxygen, valves, and portable oxygen generating machines. Phil and his company Nantucket Energy were there for the hospital in so many ways during the ordeal.

Under the leadership of Margaretta Andrews, the Community Foundation served a critical role for the island community by establishing the Nantucket Fund for Emergency Relief that has helped so many Nantucket non-profits, including the hospital, to continue to serve island residents through the pandemic. This fund has also been critical in providing the resources needed to deliver food to seniors and others in need during the crisis. The Community Foundation has proven itself to be an indispensable source of guidance and support for the community.

Read more…

Viessmann Recalls Boilers Due to Carbon Monoxide Hazard

Viessmann a manufacturer of residential and commercial boilers, in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), has announced a recall of certain boilers due to potential Carbon Monoxide hazard.

The boiler heat exchanger back plate can corrode and leak flue gases, allowing the boiler to emit excessive amounts of carbon monoxide, posing a CO poisoning hazard to consumers. This recall involves the Vitodens 200-W and Vitodens 222-F series boilers used for space or domestic water heating. There are five affected models in a specific serial number range. The Vitodens 200-W is a wall hung unit, housed in a white metal box about 38 inches high and 18 inches wide. The Vitodens 222-F is a floor mounted unit, housed in a white metal box about 68 inches tall and 24 inches wide. The name “Vitodens” is printed on the label on the outside of the boiler box. The product name and model number can be found on the left side of the boiler cover. The serial number can be found on the underside of the wall mounted boiler and on the center section on the floor mount model.

Consumers with recalled boilers should immediately contact the installer or distributor of the boiler to schedule a repair. Consumers who continue use of the boilers while awaiting repair, should have a working carbon monoxide alarm outside of sleeping areas and on every level of the home.

If you receive inquiries please immediately direct them to contact Viessmann at 800-288-0667 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, by email recalliessmann.com or online at http://www.viessmann.com and go to middle of the page to Important Information.

Further information can be obtained on the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.

Multiple Milestones in Ten Years

Nantucket Energy announces it has achieved multiple milestones for a small startup business by celebrating 10 years in business as 2018 draws to a close.  

What better way to commemorate this special time than by highlighting their achievements in innovational design and leadership within the propane industry, as well as the company’s successful goodwill campaigns.

How does a family-owned, local propane service provider gain national recognition in the propane industry?  For starters, they built  additional storage for propane and then proceeded to design a customized bobtail to help improve efficiency in delivery (despite the logistical challenges of operating on a 105-square-mile island). Also, while they trail-blazed and forged their way into new territory, Nantucket Energy donated a percentage of every propane grill tank refill to local non-profits in 2017 and 2018.

Philip Marks III, the owner and co-founder of Nantucket Energy, has 120,000 gallons of underground bulk storage and added another 90,000 gallons this past August, with a total of 210,000 gallons of propane storage on island. Additional storage is a must-have when working on an island, especially during the winter when the operation can go days without a delivery.

“We had a situation last winter where we had an ice storm and we didn’t get any boats at all for a week,” Marks says. “Usually we are getting a load every day.”

The bulk storage helps ensure the operation has fuel available, while the recent addition of a customized bobtail ensures that customers get the fuel when they need it. 

Marks worked with Exosent Engineering, a transport manufacturing company in Texas, to build a bobtail that is lightweight, has improved storage volume, is safe, and was built knowing that the driver is working on a small island.  Read more published on IPGasMagazine. 

Thinking beyond the obvious need of propane heat during the winter months, the team at Nantucket Energy developed a summer goodwill campaign called Give Back to ACK. With hashtag #ShareTheNantucketEnergy. It was launched in June 2017 and again in 2018. June through September, a portion of proceeds for every NE grill tank purchase or exchange was contributed to the following non-profits: Swim Across America, Nantucket Boys and Girls Club, The S.T.A.R. Program, The Marla Lamb Foundation, Senior Salt Marsh Center, and the Nantucket Energy Scholarship Fund.

 

Nantucket Energy has achieved significant growth since its inception in 2008. Over its 10-year history it has offered heating and fuel services generating competitive pricing and savings options for customers. It was the first to offer electronic tank monitoring systems while always providing reliable customer service.

“We are very happy to have reached this anniversary and thank all of our customers, associates and staff for their contributions over the last 10 years.” – Philip Marks III

nantucketenergy.com

Saving Money on your fuel energy costs

This September,  Nantucket Energy is offering a special home maintenance package for only $99.  The maintenance package is to ensure that heating systems run at the highest effeciency, resulting in saving money.
 “Heating water is about 20% [of a home’s] annual energy cost. Switching to propane or gas can save homeowners money,” says Jim Hitzemann, chairman of the Propane Education & Research Council’s Homebuilder Subcommittee. “Remodelers can show substantial savings to their customer over electricity.” 

Replacing your electric or oil-fired hot water heater with a propane-fired tankless hot water heater can save up to 20% on your hot water heating bill.  Common hot water heaters in most homes use energy all day long to keep the water in the tank hot, usually at about 120 degrees.  But tankless water heaters sit idly, using NO energy, until a hot water faucet is turned on somewhere in the house.  The unit comes to life automatically, instantly heating the water to the desired temperature as long as the faucet, or dishwasher, or washing machine is on.  When demand for hot water stops, the unit shuts off.  While there are electric tankless hot water heaters, propane units are more efficient and quicker to heat up.

“

Using gas in hot water heating instead of electricity means that the recovery time is faster,” says Phil Marks of Nantucket Energy.  “With a much lower cost for fuel, you actually get a lot more hot water.”



Once you commit to propane energy, consider replacing your old oil-fired furnace or installing a new gas-fired heater in new construction.  And if you are building new and not just remodeling, think about designing radiant floor heating into your structure, particularly in bathrooms.  This requires tubing under the floor that distributes hot water and heats the room from the floor up when the thermostat calls for it.  According to the Department Of Energy, “…the entire surface of the floor radiates about the same amount of heat as the human body does, making the occupant feel warm even though the air temperature might be only 65 degrees.”



Martin Cumpston of Consolidated Plumbing Industries says, “Propane can provide the BTUs, in a tank-type or instantaneous-type water heater, to run a radiant heating system for any remodeling project in any climate. Propane, coupled with the complete and easy-to-install products now available, makes radiant heat a viable and affordable option.”



Nantucket Energy will be pleased to refer you to plumbing contractors who can help you with designing, sizing, and installing your propane systems.  Your accountant may be able to give you advice on any current tax credits or rebates that may are available for energy-saving improvements this year.

The Importance of Efficiency

When Nantucket Energy began in 2008, we noticed the lack of flexibility in standard propane management and billing software: the old technology was wasting time and money.

Our goal: to provide our customers with a user-friendly online experience and make our office more efficient.  To obtain this we collaborated with a local programing group to develop a more efficient account management system.  This has helped us to keep costs down (our office efficiency has increased by more than 50%), giving you more savings!

At Nantucket Energy we want to empower our customers with information.  We designed our invoice to provide everything our customers need or want to know.  An informed customer is a happy customer!

Have any questions about your online account management?  Don’t hesitate to email us!