UKLPG, the UK’s national trade association for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), is encouraging customers to get ahead for winter with some top tips to help prepare for the colder months that lie ahead.
Peter Westwood, chief executive of UKLPG, said: “We know it may seem a bit early to start talking about winter, but we appreciate that during the colder months a reliable and consistent source of energy is essential, therefore it’s important to act now to ensure your equipment is working efficiently.
“Customers should make sure that their boiler and other gas appliances are serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer and if the boiler is more than 15 years old, a replacement should be considered to ensure ultimate efficiency. An energy-efficient condensing boiler will not only significantly cut heating bills but could also achieve running efficiencies of 90 per cent.
“By taking your energy consumption into your own hands and using a programmer that allows you to set when the heating and hot water comes on and goes off based on your personal routine, you could also save both energy and money.”
For homeowners who live off the gas grid, LPG is a reliable and convenient fuel that acts in the same way as mains gas but is piped from a tank or cylinder generally located in the garden, delivered by suppliers based across the UK.
Demand for the off-grid fuel is at its highest during winter and with LPG delivered via road, unexpected and severe weather conditions can cause disruption to normal delivery patterns. UKLPG is urging customers to check that they have a full tank of fuel as the colder months approach to minimise the chance of disruption to supply.
Westwood continued: “Many LPG suppliers provide customers with monitoring systems which automatically transmit details of the customer’s fuel level, alerting the supplier to arrange a delivery to fill up the tank ahead of winter. However, customers who don’t have this facility and order LPG themselves should consider checking their tank levels as soon as possible and ordering a delivery to provide peace of mind. Going into winter fully prepared and with a full tank ensures that householders and businesses can access the fuel and heat they need, regardless of any extreme weather conditions.”
UKLPG and its members work closely with the Government, devolved administrations and local authorities during winter to ensure LPG can be delivered as efficiently as possible, whatever the weather. All UKLPG members agree to the principles set out in the Customer Charter, which includes a Cold Weather Priority Initiative.
For more advice on how to prepare for winter, please visit www.uklpg.org/advice/get-ahead-for-winter-getaheadforwinter or search #GetAheadForWinter on Twitter. For more information on the Customer Charter, visit www.uklpg.org/advice/uklpg-customer-charter.