NJ Homeowners Wake Up to State of Emergency Involving Their Heating System—How They Can Prepare for Below-Freezing Temperatures on the Way

Just as New Jersey enters the coldest months of the year, Gov. Phil Murphy has declared a statewide state of emergency to address an anticipated supply shortage that could affect thousands of New Jersey households and their heating systems.

In recent weeks, a major propane supply disruption due to an outage at the Marcus Hook refinery and industrial complex in Pennsylvania has slowed the flow of propane to the trucks that deliver fuel across New Jersey and neighboring states.

Though the facility is still running, there are still significant delays, causing uneven delivery schedules for residential customers.

New Jersey estimates that about 186,000 households rely on propane as their primary heat source, meaning any extended disruption puts families at real risk as temperatures drop.

If your home runs on propane—or you have loved ones who rely on it—here’s what this means and what you should be doing now.

What does a propane-reliant heating system look like?

Propane is a clean-burning heating fuel stored in a tank. If you’re thinking about the canister that fuels many outdoor grills, you’re right on the money. This is exactly like that—but larger. The tank sits on your property, either above ground or buried but always outside of the home. 

A propane heating system works by sending fuel from the outdoor tank through a pressure regulator and into the home, where a furnace or boiler burns it to heat air or water. 

That warm air is then circulated through ducts, baseboards, or radiators.

According to Blue Flame, a propane distributor in the South Jersey area, it takes 2.67 gallons of propane per day on average to heat a 2,000-square-foot home. Most tanks range from 120 to 500 gallons, which may seem like a lot, but it's recommended that homeowners should plan to reorder when levels dip to around 20%–30%. That can happen quickly when temperatures go below freezing.

How to warm your home with less propane?

The good news is that Gov. Murphy’s order should hopefully increase deliveries immediately to ensure homeowners who rely on propane for home heating purposes can receive it without interruption.

“As temperatures continue to drop, ensuring that every person has access to a safe, warm environment is essential,” said Gov. Murphy in an official statement. “This Executive Order expands delivery capabilities to keep homes heated and families secure.”

But with that said, there are still some key things homeowners can to lower heat consumption without risking their health. 

First, despite the evenings being the coldest hours, it’s still a good idea to lower you thermostat a few degrees while you’re sleeping. 

If there are rooms that are seldomly used, close off the vents to retain heat for more high traffic rooms of the house, like bedrooms and dens.

If you have a ceiling fan, reverse the direction to push warm air down. An inexpensive way to lock in the warmth is to seal drafts around doors and windows with weatherstripping or even towels. 

What you don’t want to do is attempt to heat your home using your oven or indoor grills. These can cause carbon monoxide buildups, which can lead to fires. 

The best backup and alternative heat sources for propane-reliant homes 

If your propane level falls dangerously low and a delivery can’t reach you, the best tip is to relocate if at all possible. Stay with friends and family or even an emergency shelter until heat can be restored. 

If you have electric space heaters, these are the safest option for heating your home if you’re staying put. Just be sure to have it plugged into a single, dedicated outlet (no extension cords) and that the unit has an automatic tip-over shutoff.

Don’t leave the space heater unattended or running when you sleep.

Additionally, according to NJ Consumer Affairs, kerosene heaters are banned by law from use in commercial establishments and multiple family dwellings, so you are limited to using electric space heaters and fireplaces. 

The last tip experts agree on is that a poorly maintained furnace burns more propane than necessary. 

Hopefully, Gov. Murphy’s actions will ensure that homeowners won’t suffer during these colder months, but if you haven’t had a seasonal tuneup, now is the time to act. 

Ask your HVAC specialist to perform an emergency inspection, as cleaning filters and ensuring proper airflow can help you stretch the fuel you have.