Preventative Maintenance is Key!
Oct 02, 2025
Scott Richardson
Energy Division Manager
In farming, we use the most amount of fuel during the most varied weather conditions. Water and moisture are not usually the result of poorly managed fuel delivery. Rather, they are often the culprit of condensation inside fuel tanks during hot days and cool nights, broken lids, or caps not sealing properly. Filling your equipment up at night when you’re done for the day and making sure your lids are closed tight will help reduce space in your equipment’s fuel tanks. When fuel that has been heated by the high-pressure fuel system and allowed to cool down over night, it draws moisture into those tanks, creating condensation and contaminating your fuel. The same can be said for your on-farm fuel barrels that sit empty or half empty all winter, space allows the air inside of the tank to warm during the day and then cool and condense overnight.
With fuel additives in today’s premium diesel fuels, you should be able to store a full tank of fuel over winter, reducing your condensation risk, and having no issues in fuel quality come springtime. Often, filling your tanks during the winter market downturn, can be a great time to capture pricing discounts before the spring demand kicks back in.
Regulator manufacturers suggest replacing the devices about every 20 years. While devices have been known to last twice that length of time, you’re running on borrowed time, and things tend to break when they’re needed the most - during the coldest winter weather. It’s not uncommon to see regulators freeze up during sub-zero nights, stopping the flow of propane and resulting in a cold house. Key Cooperative’s Energy Service team provides excellent service when it’s time to update your propane system. If you receive notification from our Key Energy team about a piece of equipment that needs to be updated, please give us a call to discuss your options.
When it comes to interior service needs, Key Cooperative does not install or sell interior home appliances, HVAC systems, or grain drying equipment. However, our team partners with several local HVAC, appliance and farm supply companies to make sure your home is taken care of.
If you would like a list of suggested vendors in your area that Key partners with, or if you are interested in any of the maintenance suggestions above, please contact Key Cooperative’s Energy Department at 800-469-1040.
Energy Division Manager
Don’t Overlook the Little Things
As we begin the fall season with the mad rush of harvest or start weather-proofing our homes for the cold weather to come, we often overlook the little things that help keep us going. We forget about the propane line we haven’t used in a few years that feeds the grain dryer, the fuel filter that’s starting to get rusty on the fuel tank pump, or the crusty hose that’s baked in the heat of the sun and endured the harsh, cold winter temps. We also take for granted the regulators that moderate the flow of propane from our tanks to our home appliances. When any of these items fail, they can put your harvest operation at a standstill, costing you precious time and money. When they fail, they could also put your home and comfort at risk, usually meaning a brisk shower or a cold house.Fuel Filters and Moisture Management
Hopefully by this point, you’ve taken the time to look over your propane equipment if you were planning to use it for grain drying, but we’re just now hitting peak demand for fuel. You’ve likely burned through a few tanks of fuel to get harvest well underway, and a little preventative maintenance can go a long way as the fuel keeps coming in. Filter manufacturers recommend changing the filters in your fuel tank’s pumping system twice a year to keep your pumping speeds at peak volume and to prevent any risks of fuel contamination. These filters sit out in some of the harshest weather conditions including soaking rain, high heat and freezing temperatures. Moisture is fuel’s worst enemy and keeping it out of your filters, tanks and equipment is a high priority. Long term water or moisture issues can lead to bigger problems in your fuel systems, like algae. Preventative maintenance practices like changing fuel filters regularly, keeping hoses and nozzles in good condition and covered when not in use, and checking fuel storage regularly for water contamination are all good ways to prevent downtime.In farming, we use the most amount of fuel during the most varied weather conditions. Water and moisture are not usually the result of poorly managed fuel delivery. Rather, they are often the culprit of condensation inside fuel tanks during hot days and cool nights, broken lids, or caps not sealing properly. Filling your equipment up at night when you’re done for the day and making sure your lids are closed tight will help reduce space in your equipment’s fuel tanks. When fuel that has been heated by the high-pressure fuel system and allowed to cool down over night, it draws moisture into those tanks, creating condensation and contaminating your fuel. The same can be said for your on-farm fuel barrels that sit empty or half empty all winter, space allows the air inside of the tank to warm during the day and then cool and condense overnight.
With fuel additives in today’s premium diesel fuels, you should be able to store a full tank of fuel over winter, reducing your condensation risk, and having no issues in fuel quality come springtime. Often, filling your tanks during the winter market downturn, can be a great time to capture pricing discounts before the spring demand kicks back in.
Propane Systems and Regulator Replacements
Speaking of cold weather, we don’t often think of propane and our tank systems until it’s cold outside and something’s not working. That’s why Key Cooperative inspects your propane system each time we make a delivery and then, if needed, we may suggest regulator replacements based on age of the equipment or the condition of the device itself. Propane regulators help control and maintain correct pressures from your propane tank, through the ground and then into your home, animal structure, or shop’s heating appliances. Without these devices, your system would be at risk for dangerous leaks or faulty running equipment.Regulator manufacturers suggest replacing the devices about every 20 years. While devices have been known to last twice that length of time, you’re running on borrowed time, and things tend to break when they’re needed the most - during the coldest winter weather. It’s not uncommon to see regulators freeze up during sub-zero nights, stopping the flow of propane and resulting in a cold house. Key Cooperative’s Energy Service team provides excellent service when it’s time to update your propane system. If you receive notification from our Key Energy team about a piece of equipment that needs to be updated, please give us a call to discuss your options.
How Key Cooperative Can Help
Key Cooperative’s Energy department has a team of five highly-trained and skilled service technicians to help with all the preventative maintenance items mentioned. We also have a stock of inventoried parts and supplies to help keep you running when it’s most important. Key’s energy service team can install and maintain refined fuel, lubricant and diesel exhaust fluid tank systems, along with exterior propane tank and piping installations.When it comes to interior service needs, Key Cooperative does not install or sell interior home appliances, HVAC systems, or grain drying equipment. However, our team partners with several local HVAC, appliance and farm supply companies to make sure your home is taken care of.
If you would like a list of suggested vendors in your area that Key partners with, or if you are interested in any of the maintenance suggestions above, please contact Key Cooperative’s Energy Department at 800-469-1040.