Propane
Paraco Gas
Paraco Gas is a family-owned propane distributor headquartered in Rye Brook, New York. The business began in 1968 as Patsems, Inc., a welding supply distributor in Mount Vernon, New York, and entered propane in December 1979 with the purchase of Paraco Fuel Corporation, a fuel oil and propane distributor in Peekskill.
Growth has come largely through acquisition: Suburban Propane's Long Island operation in 1985, Furman Gas Company in 1994, the Airgas Northeast bulk propane division in Connecticut, AmeriGas locations in New York in 2004, Long Island Bottled Gas in 2005, and Blackstone Propane, which opened Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Residential service covers home heating, cooking and drying, pool heating, outdoor living, standby generators and BBQ cylinder exchange, with tanks from 56 to 1,000 gallons installed aboveground or underground, automatic delivery, tank monitoring and budget payment plans. Commercial service covers forklift fuel, restaurant kitchens, construction sites, agricultural and industrial accounts, propane autogas for fleets, and cylinder exchange and refill with storage that holds up to 36 BBQ tanks.
The company says it serves over 120,000 residential and commercial customers from 27 distribution locations with more than 425 employees, and describes itself as the 13th largest propane marketer in the United States. Branch locations are published across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island; an executive biography on the same site also names Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Best for
Northeast owners and operators in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania or Rhode Island who need bulk propane delivery, tank installation, cylinder exchange or forklift fuel. Not a supplier outside the Northeast.
What they do
- Residential propane delivery
- Commercial and bulk propane delivery
- Propane tank installation, aboveground and underground
- Automatic delivery and tank monitoring
- Budget and payment plans
- BBQ cylinder exchange and refill
- Forklift propane
- Propane autogas for fleets
- Standby generator fuel
- Oil-to-propane conversion
Details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1968 |
| Ownership | Private |
| Team size | 201-500 employees |
What stands out
- Says it serves over 120,000 residential and commercial customers from 27 distribution locations.
- Reports more than 425 employees company-wide and describes itself as the 13th largest US propane marketer.
- Family-owned since 1968, entering the propane business in 1979.
- Publishes branch locations across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
- Offers tanks from 56 to 1,000 gallons, installed aboveground or underground.
Common questions
- How can a propane leak be detected?
- By the odor. A strong odorant is added to propane so a leak can be detected by smell, and Paraco advises that everyone in the household learn to recognize it. Colds, allergies, sinus congestion or strong cooking odors can mask it, so the company recommends installing a propane gas detector per the manufacturer's instructions, along with carbon monoxide detectors.
- What should be done if gas is smelled?
- Extinguish smoking materials and open flames, do not turn light switches, appliances or thermostats on or off, and do not use the telephone, since an electric spark could ignite the gas. Get everyone out of the building, vehicle, RV or trailer, close the propane container supply valves if it is safe to do so, then call Paraco from a cell phone or a neighbor's phone and stay out until the problem is corrected.
- Why must someone be home to unlock a propane container?
- Paraco can disconnect service at the tank or regulator and install a lock without entering the home, but restoring service requires removing the lock and performing a leak check, which may require access to the home to shut off gas flow to an appliance. Once the leak check is done and propane is turned back on, all appliance pilots must be verified for proper operation.
- Does Paraco supply propane for forklifts?
- Yes. Paraco supplies forklift propane through cylinder exchange, so an empty cylinder can be swapped for a filled one without downtime.