What should I do if there's a propane shortage during a cold snap?
Marshall's steep hillside lots and tight, mountainside downtown make access the real issue when propane runs short — a delivery truck can't always reach an iced-over grade on short notice in a freeze. Get on your supplier's schedule early, switch off will-call, and zone-heat the rooms you use while the cold snap runs.
When the truck can't get to you
Up the French Broad gorge in Madison County, the terrain does the damage. Homes here perch on steep grades with limited access, and a propane truck that services a flat subdivision easily may not make a hard, icy climb during exactly the cold snap when you need the fill. That's why will-call is a gamble here — by the time you notice you're low, the weather and the driveway may both be against you. Automatic delivery keeps your supplier ahead of your level so the fill happens on their timing, not your emergency. And never ride the tank to empty: recovering an empty LP system means a leak-and-pressure test and relighting every pilot before you have heat.
Tight lots, honest heat
Marshall's narrow mountainside building sites also complicate chimney routing and draft, so the fireplace you're counting on to stretch fuel should be one that vents cleanly — a sealed direct-vent unit sidesteps a lot of the draft trouble a tight lot can cause. Drop the central thermostat, close the rooms you're not in, and let the fireplace hold the living space; that's how you buy days on a tank. We're 25 minutes north, and while the propane and delivery are your supplier's job, sizing and setting the appliance for LP is ours. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Marshall
We install and service fireplaces throughout Marshall and the rest of Madison County — just 25 minutes north from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- Can natural gas service be interrupted in extreme cold?
- Can propane freeze or stop flowing in very cold weather?
- At what tank percentage should I schedule a propane refill?
- What happens to my gas fireplace when the propane tank runs empty?
- Why does propane cost more in winter, and can I lock in a price?