Elevated fuel prices across the board are making heating costs challenging for many people. Even if the rest of the winter stays mild, a bill that’s higher—even when you aren’t using more propane than usual—stings. Truthfully, we wish we had more control over the cost of propane. It’s important to remember that we don’t profit when prices are higher. In fact, it’s the opposite. Think about when food prices increase. It’s not the local grocery store profiting off those higher prices. If anyone’s profiting, it’s the big corporations and Wall Street investors.
Still, we know paying those bigger heating bills are a worry for many folks. That’s why we encourage everyone to sign up for a monthly payment plan. Even when fuel costs are low, it’s a popular option, because it helps keep fuel bills level and manageable.
We’ll calculate your average fuel use based on your past statements and usage patterns. From there, we’ll spread your costs out evenly over several months, cutting winter bills nearly in half and making it easier for you to plan your expenses. As a result, our heating fuel payment plan is a smart way to manage winter propane costs and avoid unexpected high invoices, no matter how cold it gets or how much fuel you use!
Even if we have a particularly cold winter or prices continue to rise, we’ll help adjust your payments, so you don’t get hit with a large balance in the summer. Likewise, if it’s a mild winter, we can adjust and reduce your payments: The point is to help you save while avoiding big fluctuations.
If you are struggling with your propane bills, please let us know before you get too far behind. We will work with you to find a solution.
In addition, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services offers help to qualifying low-income households by providing assistance with heating costs.
Whether you sign up for a payment plan or prefer to pay as you go, you’ll get all the value from being a Rand Wade customer, like always-reliable propane deliveries, and neighborly customer service. We hope fuel prices will begin to moderate in the coming months, but no matter what happens with prices in the future, we will always work with you to help you keep costs manageable.
Contact us today for more information about our budget plan and all the other ways we can serve you.
Unless you operate a fleet of freight or delivery trucks, buses, or farm or construction vehicles, you may not be all too familiar with diesel fuel or how it differs from regular unleaded gasoline. So, what exactly is diesel fuel? Like gasoline, diesel is made from refined crude oil, but it is less flammable and less volatile than gas and delivers a lot more power.
Diesel engines run a little differently than the combustion engine in the typical passenger car ort light-duty truck. So, you can’t take advantage of that power unless you have a diesel engine. But it’s that efficiency and power that are the key advantages of diesel over gas when it comes to heavy duty commercial vehicles. In addition, diesel engines tend to last longer and require less maintenance—even as they handle bigger loads.
From agriculture to construction, trucking to manufacturing and beyond, businesses large and small count on Rand Wade for the diesel delivery service they need to get the job done.
If you operate a fleet of service vehicles that use diesel fuel, our on-site fueling and bulk delivery service saves you time and money, compared to the cost of dispatching your fleet to an off-site gas station for fill-ups. We deliver on-road diesel fuel throughout the year to construction companies, trucking companies and many other businesses with a fleet of vehicles.
Do you operate a construction company or other business that has diesel-powered equipment or a farm running tractors or other farm equipment? If you’re currently buying on-road diesel from a gas station for your off-road equipment, you are paying unnecessary taxes. With the ultra-low sulfur dyed diesel that we deliver for off-road vehicles and equipment, there’s no federal excise tax—and you may be eligible for state excise tax refunds.
Our commercial fueling services are designed to work for all kinds of clients. School districts and municipalities also need diesel fuels and gasoline for school buses, snowplows, fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances. Further, we can help fuel trucks and equipment for road repairs, commercial mowers, and equipment for maintenance public spaces, transit buses, shuttle buses, paratransit buses and more.
When you depend on every truckload of diesel fuel for the success of your business, that fuel is more than just a line item in your budget. You need a partner who will deliver true value at a fair price.
Our commercial and business partnerships are important to us, and that’s why we strive to deliver real value that goes beyond competitive prices. Our friendly staff has fuel management expertise that takes the stress and guesswork out of commercial fuel deliveries. We’ve got the experience to understand your needs and help you plan, schedule, and manage your fuel deliveries. We can also help you track your fuel usage to reduce waste and improve efficiency. And we can work with you to plan a fueling station at your business or job site!
We’re always here and happy to take your call. Contact us today to find out how we can make your day-to-day refueling easier.
You’ve probably used a portable propane cylinder to fire up your grill once or twice before. It’s easy to know what size you need—after all, the manufacturers’ instructions that came with your grill probably suggested the right size. But if you’re a new homeowner who’s never run a home with propane—or thinking of making the switch to propane—knowing what size propane tank you need for your home isn’t so obvious.
To know what size tank you need, you need to know how you will use your propane. Is it just for cooking, heating water, heating your home, or more? There are a lot of variables to consider, but the pros at Rand Wade are here to help you take the guesswork out of calculating the best size tank for your needs.
The first thing to know is that, unlike portable tanks, which usually give their capacity in pounds, residential propane tank size is usually given as their water capacity volume in gallons. Since propane is stored in a liquid state under pressure, it needs room to expand into a vapor. That’s why propane tanks are “filled” to 80% of its water capacity.
For example, a 120-gallon tank will hold approximately 100 gallons of propane when completely full.
Here’s a rundown of the most common tank sizes and their applicable uses:
Once we’ve helped you determine the best size tank for your needs, our pros can help determine the best location for your tank and make sure it’s installed safely. We’ve been providing propane tank installation for all kinds of homes and businesses for more than 45 years here in North Carolina! Whether you’re new to propane or just need to replace your tank, we’re here to answer all your questions.
Once you have your tank, you’ll want to ensure you have reliable propane delivery service to ensure you always have propane. You want a company that puts customers first. That inherently means offering fair, transparent pricing, but it also means offering real value and true reliability, with products and services designed to make your life easier.
Rand Wade has been dedicated to prompt, reliable, courteous propane delivery service to homes and businesses across Greene County, Lenoir County, Pitt County, Wayne County or Wilson County, North Carolina for almost half a century. Contact us today to learn more and get started on becoming a customer.
If you grew up in a home heated with heating oil or electric heat, the idea of heating a home with propane might seem odd. It’s part of the reason why most people think propane is just for grills and camping. But as electric rates go higher and the cost of oil remains unpredictable, many homeowners in the Greene County area are looking for a domestic fuel source with prices that are a bit further under control
Others are wondering if electric heat is actually the cleaner, greener fuel it’s made out to be. It’s at this point that most people are discovering all the benefits propane has to offer!
But what exactly is propane? Propane is a byproduct of natural gas that is one of the cleanest, most versatile, and most efficient fuels around. It provides steady, reliable heat at an affordable price. Propane also offers exceptional performance and efficiency in a wide range of home appliances at a much lower cost than electricity. Because it is compressed and stored in a liquid state, it is sometimes referred to as Liquid Petroleum Gas or LPG.
Here are five ways propane could be a smart choice for fueling your home—and they might surprise you:
Propane is a domestically sourced fuel. In fact, the U.S. produces more than enough propane to meet current demand and became a net exporter of propane in 2011. That increases our energy independence and reduces our reliance on foreign oil imports.
Propane generates more Btus than an equivalent amount of electricity, and it delivers more than twice the Btus of natural gas. What does that mean for you? It means you need much less propane to produce the same amount of heat or energy.
Also, 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, which is tough news for your wallet.
Because propane is so efficient, it’s a smarter choice than electricity for a wide variety of appliances, in addition to heating your home.
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.
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:
While it’s a highly flammable gas under certain conditions, leaks are rare, and propane is a safe and clean-burning way to heat your home and water and run many of your appliances. Propane is designed with a distinct rotten-egg smell to help you quickly notice leaking gas.
If you run your home with propane and the electricity goes out, you have options. Your home will stay warm and comfortable thanks to your supply of propane. How so? It’s stored right on your property in a tank that’s kept full with prompt propane delivery from Rand Wade. And with a propane-fueled backup generator, your lights and everything else will be running until the utility companies can make repairs. How’s that for added peace of mind?
Whether you’re ready to make the switch to propane gas or have more questions to make yourself familiar, the professionals at Rand Wade have the knowledge, experience, and resources to answer all your questions. We can also get you started with the right size propane tank for your needs, reliable propane delivery, and more in no time.
Contact us for more information today.
If you were to mention off-grid living, most people think of “roughing it outdoors.” But today, an off-grid lifestyle can include every convenience of modern living, thanks to the versatility and efficiency of propane gas.
If you’ve relied on a whole-house generator to get through extended outages, you’re probably not too surprised by this fact. Propane is clean-burning and abundant—90% of the United States’ supply of propane is domestically generated—making it a cost-effective home energy solution that can help lower energy bills whether you’re living on- or off-grid.
Rural North Carolina is beautiful and building in a remote location can be desirable for all kinds of reasons. However, connecting to electric and natural gas can cost thousands of dollars. Propane can be safely stored on your property, right in a tank. Combined with other alternative and renewable energy sources like solar, propane can transform off-grid living from extreme to extremely comfortable. Here’s how:
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. Also, propane appliances are very efficient, so they waste very little fuel in the combustion process.
In addition to heating, propane is extremely efficient for powering a wide variety of gas appliances. When it comes to cooking, most chefs prefer the control that comes with a gas range. And 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.
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:
For off-grid living, a propane-powered whole house generator provides the reliability and security other people get from the grid. A generator will kick on seamlessly when your solar or wind power is depleted—no glitchy flickering, no brownouts. And, for those who are connected to the main grid but experience frequent outages due to storms, a whole-house generator can make the wait for utility-line repairs less of a hassle.
Another factor that makes propane so reliable, on-grid or off, is that you store your supply right on your property.
Rand Wade offers propane storage tanks of all sizes, including commercial-capacity tanks. We can help evaluate your needs—based on the size of your home, and how many appliances you want to run—and help you choose the right size tank. From permits to lighting your pilots after your first fill-up, we’ll make tank installation easy. We also offer automatic delivery service to help ensure you always have enough propane!
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 in determining whether a fuel is truly “green.” Propane is also an American energy source, most of which comes from the processing of natural gas.
Maybe you’re building your dream home or a vacation hideaway well off the beaten path. Or maybe you’ve experienced extended outages due to an out-of-the-way location and utilities that tend to restore more populated areas first. Maybe you just want to add a back-up generator to your propane-fueled home system. Whatever your goals and needs, the pros at Rand Wade can answer all your questions!
Contact us today for more information or to become a customer.
If you own a commercial business here in North Carolina, your customers count on you to get the job done day in and day out. And YOU can count on Rand Wade for all the commercial fuels you need!
When it comes to providing the most dependable commercial fuel service in Greene County North Carolina and surrounding areas, we’ve got you covered.
We aim to keep your team on the road and on the job. We offer on- and off-road fuels and competitive prices to help you keep your vehicles rolling. Our commercial diesel fuels run equipment like tractors and commercial mowers, as well as delivery vans, construction vehicles and more.
We also deliver premium heating oil for agricultural and commercial operations. Heating oil burns hotter than other fuels, delivering more heat per BTU—and higher efficiency. It’s ideal for heating barns, tobacco farms and poultry houses.
When it comes to commercial propane services, we deliver here too! We also refill all sizes of propane cylinders—great for food trucks, as well as forklifts and other industrial equipment.
Don’t forget to ask about propane tank leasing and sales, including up to 1,000-gallon tanks ideal for commercial or industrial applications. We’ll be happy to help you determine the best size for your needs, and professionally install and maintain your tank.
Here are just a few of the commercial businesses we serve:
We offer nearly half a century of experience working with businesses all over our service area. As a result, we are known for our customer service and a real understanding of your needs, whether you’re an institution, school district or municipality. It’s the kind of personal, high-level service that you just won’t get from a big national company with corporate headquarters in another state.
At Rand Wade, we get it: Managing your fleet fueling and other commercial diesel fuel needs is a full-time job. That’s why we remain committed to providing these businesses with the most dependable commercial fuel service in the area. Not only that, but we also have fair, transparent pricing for our commercial fuels so there are never any unwanted surprises.
Contact us today for more information.
With fuel prices continuing to inch up across the board, it’s hard not to think about how to manage winter heating costs, even in the middle of summer.
We know paying those bigger heating bills is a worry for many folks. That’s why lots of Rand Wade customers are signing up for our heating fuel payment program. Even when fuel costs are low, it’s a popular option for customers who heat their home with propane, because it keeps your bills level and manageable. But enrollment closes at the end of July—so now’s the time to sign up!
We use an average based on your past fuel use to spread your costs evenly throughout the year, helping to cut your winter bills nearly in half…and making it easier for you to plan your expenses month-to-month. As a result, our heating fuel payment plan is a smart way to manage winter propane costs and avoid unexpected high invoices!
What’s even better? It doesn’t matter how cold it gets or how much fuel you use! Even if we have a particularly cold winter or prices continue to rise, we’ll help adjust your payments, so you don’t get hit with a large balance in the summer. Likewise, if it’s a mild winter, we can adjust and reduce your payments. The point is to help you save while avoiding big fluctuations or large lump sum payments.
Even if you prefer to pay as you go, you’ll still enjoy Rand Wade’s always competitive prices along with reliable propane delivery and more. No matter what happens with prices next winter, we will work with you to help you keep costs manageable.
But, if you’d like to sign up for our Budget Plan, don’t delay! Contact us today to learn about all the ways we can help you save.
If your traditional tank-style water heater is inching closer to the decade mark of usage, you should probably begin thinking about its replacement. Signs that it’s time to update your water heater may include higher energy bills and water that just isn’t getting quite as hot.
Truth be told, your water heater works incredibly hard for you. Bathing and showering, washing dishes, laundry, cleaning, and other tasks add up to between 60 and 65 gallons of hot water a day for the typical American family. That nonstop workload takes a toll! It’s why the life expectancy for a conventional water heater with a tank is between eight and 10 years.
So, if you think it’s time to start shopping for a new water heater, you should consider a tankless water heater.
Imagine having virtually unlimited hot water, while seeing lower fuel bills. It’s possible, with a high-efficiency tankless water heater. Also known as on-demand water heaters, tankless propane water heaters instantly heat water when you need it—so “on demand”—rather than keeping a large tank hot all the time.
Rand Wade offers a full selection of tankless water heaters from an industry renown brand, Rinnai, which include whole-house models to smaller versions that can be installed where they are needed to generate hot water for a home addition or for a spa tub, for example.
Although they save you money in the long run, tankless water heaters are typically more expensive to buy and install upfront, even if they’ll recoup that in savings in the long un. In addition, they require a little maintenance, particularly if you have hard water. Deposits and minerals can reduce performance and efficiency if you don’t flush the tank at least once a year and clean the filters.
A traditional tank-style water heater is inexpensive to replace but costs a lot more to operate. And it can’t really deliver enough hot water for more than two or three showers in a row, assuming no one is washing dishes or using hot water for anything else.
Additionally, if your home has a basement, space may not be an issue. But if you don’t have a basement, that big tank uses a lot of valuable real estate in your home. Imagine what you could do with that closet space if you could eliminate your water heater tank.
Whether you decide to stick with a traditional tank-style water heater or update with a highly efficient tankless model, don’t wait for your water heater to fail to replace it! Like other essential equipment in your home, such as your refrigerator, you don’t want to go long without it. A lukewarm shower is no way to start your day. Enjoy energy efficiency and all the hot water you need with a new water heater!
If you want to learn more about the benefits of tankless water heaters, talk to the pros at Rand Wade Oil. We can help you choose the best option for your needs—and help you take advantage of valuable rebates from Rinnai. Contact us for details today.
When you’re shopping around for a propane provider, there’s a lot to consider. National chains have slick advertising, but the headquarters are often several states away—as is the person answering the phone. The discount dealers have rock-bottom prices, but don’t offer much else.
Rand Wade hits the sweet spot. We’ve been around for more than 50 years and when it comes to safe, reliable propane delivery, we do the best job because we’re your neighbors, too! We know where you’re calling from, whether it’s a back road or a main street, a home, a farm or a business.
Here are five reasons why choosing local just makes the most sense:
Our office is located right here in Snow Hill. We deliver propane and oil throughout Greene, Lenoir, Pitt, Wayne, Wilson, Craven, and Jones Counties in North Carolina.
There’s a lot of things we can’t control—such as the weather, and the price of fuel. But we can do our best to make every one of our customers feel important and confident, like a neighbor, not a client. It’s how we’ve built our business and how we plan to keep it. Contact us today and let us know how we can help.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve heard from several folks with concerns about the surge in fuel prices. To put things into perspective, prices were already up more than a dollar this past winter season from the previous year because of issues related to the pandemic. Now, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions have shocked the energy markets. Crude oil rocketed to more than $120 per barrel at one point in early March.
Everyone is astounded by how much prices have risen, and how fast. To give you a sense of this of how this affects both of us, on March 2, we received notice from our suppliers that their prices were going up 20 cents the next day. Then, on March 3, they went up again—three more times—a total of 60 cents in just 24 hours.
We’ve also heard from customers concerned that there will be interruptions in supply that will cause them to run out of fuel. We want you to rest assured that Rand Wade Oil will never let you run out. We’ve been in business for over fifty years and have the experience and understanding of the fuel markets to plan in terms of supply. What’s more is that we have excellent, longstanding relationships with our suppliers and financial partners.
While fuel markets are always subject to fluctuation and can be extremely volatile at their worst, at this stage it’s hard to know where exactly things will go over the coming months. The main thing we can tell you is that we hate this as much as you do. Some people believe that when prices rise, we make more money. The opposite is true. People cut back on usage. They have trouble paying their bills and our receivables skyrocket. Yet our suppliers still expect us to pay in just 10 days. It becomes a bit of a mess for everyone.
In fact, we are already getting calls from customers who are with other companies in the area who can’t say the same, and who are unable to get deliveries for nearly 20 days out. You don’t have to worry about that with us!
If you’re having trouble paying your bill, talk to us. Many of you have been with us for a long time, and we will always try to work to give you more time. Also, now is a good time to ask us about our available payment plans. They’re designed to help you keep bills manageable, and enrollment for next year will be opening soon!
Rand Wade Oil is your local family-owned fuel and propane company in Greene County, North Carolina. We have been delivering oil and propane to homes and businesses throughout the region since our founding in 1971. Our drivers are trained to deliver your fuel promptly and safely; our technicians are certified experts; all our employees are committed to your total satisfaction.
