Most people call us for the first time in one of two ways. Some have just moved into a home with a tank already sitting out back. Others have been buying propane somewhere else and want a company closer to home. Either way, the first call is short, and nobody needs to know propane talk to make it. Here is what happens from that call to your first delivery.
The first call
When you call the office, we start with where you live. We deliver across sixteen communities: Montezuma Creek, Aneth, Red Mesa, Mexican Water, Bluff, Blanding, Mexican Hat, Monument Valley, Kayenta, Dennehotso, Rock Point, Blue Gap, Whippoorwill, Chinle, Many Farms and Shiprock. Some homes sit well off the paved road, so we will ask how to find you. A mile marker, a chapter house, a water tower, a turn after the cattle guard. Tell it the way you would tell a relative.
Then we ask what you heat with. Furnace, wall heater, stove, water heater, a dryer, a generator. It helps us understand how fast your home uses propane, and it tells the driver what will be running when the gas comes back on.
Talking through the tank you have
Next we talk about the tank. If you already have one, we will ask you to go look at it. Many tanks have a metal plate or a tag on the side that shows the size. Home tanks out here are often 250, 500 or 1,000 gallons. The dial on top reads a percentage, and we will ask you what it says.
We will also ask who owns the tank. Some belong to the homeowner. Some belong to a propane company. If the tank belongs to another company, tell us, and we will talk through the choices with you. If you do not have a tank at all, we install them, and we will help you pick a size and a spot that works for your home and for the truck.
Will-call or keep-full
There are two ways to get propane from us, and you choose.
- Will-call means you watch the gauge yourself and call us when it gets low. Call well before the dial drops to 20 percent. A winter storm can close a road for days, and a low tank leaves you no cushion.
- Keep-full means we keep track of how your home uses propane and schedule a delivery before you run low. You do not have to watch the dial.
Keep-full is a good fit for an elder living alone, a family that is away for work, or anyone who would rather not think about it. Will-call suits someone who checks the tank often and likes to call when they are ready. You can switch later. Just call the office.
What the driver needs at your place
A loaded propane truck is heavy, and our drivers need a safe way in and out. Before the first delivery, please make sure the gate opens or tell us the code. Put dogs up. Keep a clear path to the tank, with no wood pile, vehicles or brush against it. If your road turns soft after rain or snow, let us know. We would rather wait a day than get stuck in your yard. Weather can delay a delivery, because a driver has to be able to get back out safely.
For a tank that is new to us, or one that has run empty, the system has to be checked before the gas is turned back on. A trained technician checks the lines and appliances for leaks. That is a separate step from filling the tank, so someone needs to be home to let us in. This check is part of doing the job right.
Carbon monoxide and a gas smell
Propane appliances work hardest in winter. Every level of your home should have a working carbon monoxide alarm. If you smell an odor like rotten eggs, or a CO alarm sounds, get everyone outside first. Call 911 from a safe place. Then call us. Do not look for the leak yourself, and do not go back inside until responders say it is safe.
Who to call after that
After the first fill, you call the same number for everything. Questions about your gauge. A delivery on will-call. A switch to keep-full. A tank inspection, an appliance that is not working right, or a water heater that needs service. Our number is 435-255-1020, and it is also our 24-hour emergency line.
We are Navajo Nation-owned, and we serve the Nation because it is home. We know how far some of these roads run and how fast the weather can turn on them. When you call, you are talking to a neighbor. Call when you are ready, and we will take it one step at a time.
Running Horse Services · US Route 162 and Route 262, Montezuma Creek, UT 84534 · 435-255-1020
