Key Takeaways
• Summer is a smart time for Central Michigan homeowners to review propane delivery, tank access, and payment options.
• Smith Oil & Propane offers residential propane delivery, free tank delivery and placement, remote tank monitor options, and online account tools.
• Warm weather makes it easier to inspect tank areas, plan appliance upgrades, and prepare for future heating needs.
• Automatic delivery and tank monitoring can help reduce guesswork before colder weather returns.
• Planning before heating season can help prevent last-minute propane stress.
Summer may not feel like propane season. The furnace is off. The windows are open. Heating bills are not top of mind.
That is exactly why it is a good time to plan.
For Central Michigan homeowners, summer is one of the best times to review propane delivery, tank access, account tools, and future fuel needs. You have more time to ask questions. Your tank area is easier to inspect. Driveways and yards are clear. You can make changes before cold weather creates pressure.
Smith Oil & Propane helps homeowners across Central Michigan with residential propane delivery, tank delivery and placement, remote tank monitor options, and account tools that make propane service easier to manage.
Propane use often drops after heating season. That gives you a chance to review your setup without the stress of winter weather.
You can look at what worked last year. You can check tank access. You can ask about delivery options. You can plan around home upgrades, generators, outdoor appliances, or changes in household use.
It is much easier to make these decisions in June or July than during the first cold snap.
Start by looking at how your home used propane last fall and winter.
Did your tank run lower than expected? Did you need more deliveries? Did you add a propane appliance? Did someone move into the home? Did you use a fireplace, generator, garage heater, or shop heat more than usual?
Small changes can affect propane use.
• How much propane did we use last heating season?
• Did we run low at any point?
• Were deliveries easy to schedule?
• Did our home or family routine change?
• Did we add a propane appliance?
• Are we planning a generator, pool heater, or outdoor kitchen?
• Do we want fewer manual tank checks?
These answers can help you decide if your current propane plan still fits your home.
Warm weather makes tank access easier to review.
Walk around your propane tank and look at the space. Make sure the area is clear, safe, and easy for delivery drivers to reach. Trim brush. Move equipment. Check gates. Look for anything that could block access later.
• Clear weeds, brush, and tall grass near the tank
• Move trailers, equipment, firewood, and stored items away from the tank
• Make sure gates open easily
• Check that the tank is visible and easy to reach
• Look for drainage or soft ground issues
• Think about where snow will pile up later
• Make sure future landscaping will not block access
A clean tank area helps make delivery easier in every season.
Summer is also a common time for home projects.
If you are adding a deck, garage, driveway, fence, generator, pool heater, or outdoor kitchen, think about how that project may affect propane service.
A project that looks simple can create problems if it blocks tank access or changes how delivery trucks reach your property.
Before you build, ask how the project could affect:
• Propane tank location
• Delivery access
• Underground lines
• Future appliance needs
• Generator fuel use
• Tank size
Planning ahead can save time and prevent service issues later.
New propane customers often have questions about tank setup. Where should the tank go? How close can it be to the house? Will the location work for deliveries? Will it block future projects?
Smith Oil & Propane makes switching easier by delivering and placing the tank for new customers. If you already have a tank, Smith can begin service with your existing setup.
Tank placement should always consider safety, access, and long-term use. A good location should work during summer, fall, winter, and spring.
Learn more through Smith’s residential heating fuels page.
Remote tank monitoring can make propane service easier.
Instead of walking outside to check the gauge, a monitor helps track fuel levels with less guesswork. This can be helpful for busy families, seasonal homes, lake properties, rental homes, and customers who travel.
It can also help homeowners feel more prepared before heating season. If your propane use changes, a monitor gives you a clearer picture of what is happening in the tank.
Smith Oil & Propane lists remote tank monitors as an available option for customers.
Propane service is easier when account information is simple to access.
Smith offers an online account portal and mobile app. These tools can help customers manage account details without waiting until heating season is busy.
Summer is a good time to make sure your account is ready.
Check that:
• Your contact information is current
• Your billing information is correct
• Your delivery address is accurate
• Your preferred communication method is updated
• You know how to access your account online
These small steps can help avoid confusion later.
Summer is a good time to think about propane appliances and upgrades.
Propane can support more than home heating. It may also be used for water heating, cooking, clothes drying, fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, pool heaters, garage heat, shop heat, and backup generators.
If you plan to add a propane appliance, your fuel needs may change.
• Water heaters
• Ranges and cooktops
• Clothes dryers
• Fireplaces
• Pool heaters
• Garage heaters
• Shop heaters
• Standby generators
• Outdoor kitchens
Before adding new propane equipment, review your tank size and delivery plan.
Many Central Michigan homeowners use propane generators for backup power.
A generator can use propane quickly during an outage. If your tank is already low, the generator may not run as long as expected. If your tank is too small for the load, you may need a different propane plan.
Summer is a good time to review generator fuel needs because thunderstorms, wind, outages, and future winter weather can all affect your home.
Ask your propane provider to review:
• Generator size
• Expected run time
• Current tank size
• Other propane appliances
• Delivery access
• Monitoring options
A good generator plan starts before the power goes out.
Summer planning helps prevent fall and winter stress.
Before cooler weather returns, take time to:
• Review last year’s propane use
• Clear the tank area
• Ask about remote monitoring
• Review account tools
• Plan around home projects
• Check generator fuel needs
• Update contact and billing information
• Review delivery needs before cold weather returns
These steps can make propane service smoother when heating season comes back.
Smith Oil & Propane has served Central Michigan since 1932. The company delivers propane, fuel oil, and lubricants to local homes, farms, and businesses.
Smith offers free tank delivery and placement, free delivery without added surcharges, remote tank monitor options, online account access, a mobile app, and local service across Central Michigan.
For homeowners in St. Johns, Lansing, DeWitt, Grand Ledge, Owosso, Portland, Perry, Carson City, Chesaning, and nearby communities, local propane planning can make a real difference.
Propane planning does not have to wait until the first cold night.
Summer gives you time to review your tank, check access, ask questions, update your account, and plan changes before demand rises. A few simple steps now can help your home stay ready later.
If you want to review your current propane setup or prepare for the next heating season, start with Smith’s residential heating fuels page or request a quote.
Summer is a good time to review propane use, inspect tank access, update account information, and plan home upgrades before heating season returns.
Yes. Smith Oil & Propane says switching is easy and includes free tank delivery and placement for new customers. If you already have a tank, Smith can begin service with your current setup.
Yes. Smith lists remote tank monitor options for customers. A tank monitor can help reduce guesswork and make it easier to track propane levels.
Smith serves homes and businesses across Central Michigan, including communities such as St. Johns, Lansing, DeWitt, Grand Ledge, Owosso, Portland, Perry, Carson City, and Chesaning.
Serving Central Michigan since 1932.
401 E Railroad St, St Johns, MI 48879
(989) 224-3474