Title: Office Manager Been at company since: 1989 Role (or Roles since start): started as a CSR Interests/about me: I have 5 grandchildren & 2 great-grandchildren who keep me busy following their activities. Hobbies: love to travel, and read.
Mark Gagnon
Title: President Been at company since: 1989 Role (or Roles since start): Started out making deliveries, working with Techs etc in 1989. Became President upon my fathers passing unexpectedly in 1991. Interests/about me: Married with three children. Enjoy the outdoors. (fishing, hunting, skiing etc) Active in several community organizations. Two time Rotary Club President, founding member of Marshwood Education Foundation, Maine Energy Marketers Executive Board, South Berwick Building Committee, Coached youth soccer when kids were little.
Scott Hemingway
Title: Sales Manager Been at company since: July 2004 Role (or Roles since start): Develop builder and contractor networking programs, commercial projects, customer retention and LP Gas sales. Interests/about me: Married w/ 2 adult children and 5 grandchildren. Enjoy family time, golf, hunting and watching the New England Patriots and the Red Sox.
Mark Leach
Title: Director of Operations Been at company since: 1977 Role (or Roles since start): Driver, Service Tech, Sales & Operations / Safety - Training Interests/about me: my family, member of the South Berwick Fire Dept. since 1975, Safety trainer for Propane Gas Assoc. of New England, providing training for first responders throughout New England.
Mike Place
Title: Equipment Sales Been at company since: 2007 Role (or Roles since start): Started here as an Oil and Propane Service Tech/Installer. Learned Air Conditioning service and installations. Then moved into sales. Interests/about me: Spending time with the family, being outdoors, and camping.
Kent Davis
Started in the business by wearing the uniforms, painting oil and propane tanks, and threading pipe for his Dad and Grandmother in the late 70’s. He has learned the difference between working for a family owned business and a family operated business. Just because a family owns a business doesn’t mean they take care of their customers like they are family. That is one of main reasons Kent has worked for the Gagnon Family since 2006. The Gagnon’s both treat their employees and customers like extended family and operate their business with the same vision. Kent’s number one role is customer retention as he considers it an honor to visit with our current customers and sign up new folks and serve them with the best products in the industry matched with excellent support and service. Kent’s longevity in the industry equips him with a vantage point of seeing what works and what doesn’t from a management perspective, a technician’s view, and from our customer’s standpoint. Kent is our heating oil salesman and focuses too, on liquid oil sales and protecting our customers with oil pricing. Kent’s family has been born and bred in Eliot and they all have a special affection for the Seacoast area. Kent considers it a privilege to be able to work in his “homeland” every day of the week. Kent and his wife live in Eliot, serve their local church in Eliot, and find joy in helping local residents by serving Kittery’s Fuel and More Board, Incorporator of Kennebunk Savings, and State of Maine and Eastern Region Advent Christian Association of Churches.
Dan Richardson
Title: Service Manager Lifelong Eliot resident and graduate of Marshwood High School. Two adult sons, Shawn and Patrick. Has been in the industry, primarily on the service and installation side, since starting at Davis Oil while still in high school. Enjoys a round of golf and spending time at his families camp. Coached youth basketball for many years. Member of the South Berwick Rod and Gun Club and former member of the Eliot Fire Dept.
Lingering, summer-like days and crisp, cool evenings always make autumn a season to savor. But fall foliage and earlier sunsets remind us that winter isn’t far away. And with the wild-card winters we’ve had in recent years, it’s important that your heating system is ready when that first cold snap arrives.
The best way to guarantee your family’s comfort is to get your heating system tuned up. A tune-up ensures that your furnace or boiler will operate at peak efficiency and use less fuel. Regular maintenance reduces the chance of breakdowns and expensive repairs, and following a proper maintenance schedule also keeps your equipment warranty valid.
The options for minimizing your heating costs don’t stop there, of course. You can avoid unexpected bills for repairs with a heating service plan. Also keep in mind that you can still enroll in a price-protection program. Go here to learn more about all of your price-protection options.
As temperatures fall, I know we will be getting a lot of calls about a loss of heat. While we’re happy to come out to your house and correct this for you, sometimes checking a few items on your own is all you need to do to get your heat back.
Remember, your comfort is our concern! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone or online — anytime.
Warmly,
Mark Gagnon President
The average household in the United States uses about 65 gallons of hot water each day. Are you paying more than you should to keep all that hot water flowing?
If you had a tankless propane water heater, you could stop worrying. What’s more, if you install a qualifying propane tankless water heater before December 31, 2016, you’ll be eligible for a $300 federal tax credit and a $100 rebate from Rinnai! And look at these other benefits:
Lower bills — By operating only when hot water is needed (and not using a pilot light), a tankless system will cut your monthly bills — sometimes by as much as 40%!
Unlimited hot water — Imagine never running out of hot water in the shower—even if the dishwasher and washing machine are running at the same time!
Easy fit — Tankless systems can be mounted on the wall; these units are about the size of a suitcase, which means we can put them in crawl spaces, attics, closets and other tight spaces.
Want to go tankless? Contact us today for a FREE estimate.
You’re going in the right direction by using propane or heating oil to keep warm. But sometimes, you can lose your way trying to remain comfortable controlling costs.
Here are some tips to help you stay on the right path.
1. Buyer beware
Some fuel companies are notorious for bringing in customers at a discounted rate, all the while making it seem like their price is always lower than other companies’. In fact, their strategy is to continually step up your price until you are paying much more than you would with us. Other “discount” companies advertise low prices in the paper, but are often unavailable when you call.
If you get an offer that seems amazing, please call us to see what’s really involved. We’ve built a business that has lasted for decades by providing a great combination of value, safety and service. If you’re not careful, you can run right into a comfort dead end.
2. When to call it quits
If your boiler or furnace is more than 15 years old, consider replacing it soon; the performance and reliability of heating equipment typically deteriorates after 15 years (sooner if maintenance has been neglected).
At a minimum, a new system should help you save up to 20% on your annual heating costs. (If you significantly improve system efficiency, savings can be 40% or even more!) You’ll feel the difference in comfort too. And you’ll also save on repairs, because you’ll minimize the potential of a system breakdown, a common problem with old systems.
A family that spends $2,000 per year to heat its home and reduces its annual cost by just 20% saves $400. If the new system costs $2,800, the payback time on a system investment would be only seven years.*
* This example is for illustrative purposes only; your energy savings and equipment costs can vary.
3. More power to you
Some people think they can’t afford a backup generator, but studies show that NOT having any backup power can be more expensive in the long term. Just one power outage can cost you $1,250 — in spoiled food, eating out, damage to electronics, lost wages and temporary relocation costs.*
If you’re thinking about adding a generator, consider propane. A propane generator offers advantages that other fuel sources can’t match.
Unlike gasoline or diesel, propane can be delivered easily and stored safely on your property. During extended power outages, gasoline and diesel may be hard to get. Propane can also be stored for an unlimited amount of time; gasoline and diesel degrade after being in storage awhile.
Permanently installed outside your home and supplied by your tank, a propane generator will start automatically within seconds of the power going out.
*Source: Power Outage Impact Research, B2B International, 2015.
4. Propane delivered automatically
Like our oil customers, many of our propane customers get scheduled deliveries. They never have to call us for fuel because we carefully track their fuel usage and then make a delivery before their tank gets low. Automatic deliveries do not cost anything extra!
This system works for most customers if usage is consistent, but there are exceptions, especially for customers who use propane appliances at their discretion, such as fireplaces, space heaters, pool heaters and stoves.
In cases like these, we ask that you call us for a delivery when your propane tank gauge reaches 30%. That gives us plenty of time to get more fuel to you.
If you get automatic deliveries and start using a lot more or less fuel than normal, please call and let us know.
5. Avoid these mistakes
Many people have added insulation in their home and followed other energy-conserving strategies. That’s good! But in some cases, these changes seal up a home so tightly that the heating system can’t get enough air to operate efficiently. Poor air flow can also be caused by these conditions:
A fireplace or exhaust fan may be operating at the same time as the burner. This can result in a smoky odor because a backdraft is pulling flue gases through the exhaust system and into the home.
A clothes dryer, workshop or pet living quarters may be near the burner. Lint, sawdust or animal hair can all be drawn into the air openings of the burner and clog it, leading to a breakdown.
6. Get “smart”
Beyond replacing your old system or maintaining it properly, there are many other ways to make your home more energy efficient, reduce energy usage and save money on your heating bills.
A programmable thermostat is a great example. When used properly, it can save you about 10% on your annual energy bills. As you may know, you now have the ability to access a “smart” programmable thermostat remotely through the internet.
If you’re away from home, you can use your phone to adjust the temperature setting. The thermostat can also send you an email or a text alert about a drastic temperature change — and possible equipment failure. Some models even let you know when it’s time to schedule maintenance for your heating system. Now, that’s smart!
Our website is your one-stop shop for doing business with us, making it as easy as pie. Get information on our services, check your account, order fuel and more.
We offer a convenient AutoPay plan and paperless billing, designed to streamline bill paying and to reduce paper clutter. Call or email us today and we’ll be glad to get you set up!
Over the summer, a customer let us know that our service technician Matt McCarron had rescued the family’s cat, which had become stuck inside the furnace early one morning. All in a day’s work! Read more customer stories and service updates by visiting us at Facebook.com/PGagnonAndSon
Keep these suggestions handy in case your heat ever stops working. We also have a troubleshooting guide on our website for your convenience (just click the FAQ section).
If you lost your heat:
Make sure the power switch for the heating system is turned on
Check for a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker
Confirm that your thermostat is set above room temperature; check the batteries too
Make sure you have fuel in your tank
Push the reset button on your burner — but not more than once
Please call us right away if you need further assistance! We’re here for you 24 hours a day to keep you warm and safe.
All of us extend best wishes to our longtime service manager Dave Ellis, who is retiring on October 31. A U.S. Navy veteran, Dave has been with us for 17 years.
“I still plan on getting up at five in the morning, even though I don’t have to be anywhere,” he says. “My wife and I look forward to spending time at our lake house, where I hope to do lots of woodworking, fishing and kayaking. We’ll also do some traveling, and I’ll have more time with my grandson.”
Meanwhile, Dan Richardson takes over the role of service manager after his great work as our installation manager. Dan has been in this business since 1978 and previously worked for Davis Oil.
“I look forward to my added responsibilities in keeping P. Gagnon the leading independently owned family company in the Seacoast area,” says Dan. “I feel we have the best service team going into the heating season that I have ever seen.”
