Propane: A Key Building Block for Hurley Construction

Based in Vancouver, WA, Hurley Construction works throughout Washington, Oregon and Montana with business owners, architects and developers to bring high quality developments to the community.

Published: 27 June 2025

Propane for Temp Heat

50%

Savings in fuel costs.

Zero

Downtime for refilling tanks.

Improved

Safety over diesel.

Keeping Construction on Track Through the Winter

Based in Vancouver, Washington, Hurley Construction works throughout Washington, Oregon and Montana with business owners, architects and developers to bring high quality developments to the community. Something they’ve been passionately doing for the last 30 years.

One of their recent projects was the development of a 15-acre site, that employs 140 workers and will include 250 residential units, a club-house, courtyard and swimming pool.

Cold, damp conditions can stall progress, so an efficient, affordable temporary heating solution is fundamental to keeping the job site running smoothly and helping ensure the entire build stays on schedule and within budget.

Temporary heating isn’t just about keeping workers warm during the winter months, it’s also vital for drying out the buildings before various installation phases, including insulation, air barriers, sheetrock mud and primer texture.

In the past, diesel heaters were the go-to, but they came with a long list of frustrations. Fuel costs were high, tanks needed refilling twice a day, and there was always the risk of a spill — something that could trigger an environmental clean-up and regulatory intervention. Plus, the logistics of managing diesel levels and deliveries was one more thing to worry about on an already busy job site.

That’s where DCC Propane came in.

The cost savings of propane over diesel are obviously important, but for me, as Site Superintendent, the efficiency of DCC being able to read tanks off site is wonderful. We don’t even need to call them; they just come and fill the tanks. It saves us time and we can carry on with the job.

Allen Miller, Site Superintendent

A Smarter, More Cost-Effective Temporary Heating Solution

DCC Propane set Hurley Construction up with a seamless propane heating system, installing five 1,000-gallon tanks – powering two high-efficiency heaters across multiple buildings.

Right away, the difference was clear. Propane was dramatically more cost-effective than diesel, cutting fuel costs by almost half, and saving Hurley Construction around $1.20 a gallon. With each of the five tanks holding 1,000 gallons, and being refilled at least once a week, that’s a large saving across the winter phase of the build.

But the benefits went beyond cost. Unlike diesel, propane is cleaner-burning and doesn’t come with the risk of spills or contamination. If a diesel tank leaks on-site, it’s a major problem—requiring environmental cleanup and possibly even halting construction. With propane, there’s no mess and no risk of delays.

The switch to propane also meant fewer headaches when it came to refueling. DCC Propane installed a tank monitoring system on the propane tanks, so fuel levels are tracked remotely. There’s no need to manually check levels or worry about running out. When a tank hits the 30% level, DCC gets an automatic alert and schedules a refill—often before Hurley Construction even realizes they need it.

Reliable Service That Keeps Up with the Job

Construction sites are constantly evolving. As soon as one phase finishes, another starts, which means heating systems need to move along with the work. When that happens, Hurley Construction knows that a quick call is all it takes to have technicians on-site, ready to relocate the system without any downtime.

It’s the remote tank monitoring, along with the customer service that is the big win for Hurley Construction. Allen Miller, Site Superintendent at Hurley Construction said: “We’ve been working with DCC Propane for five months and our relationship is effortless. DCC makes everything simple and keeps everything running without us having to think about it.

“The cost savings of propane over diesel are obviously important, but for me, as Site Supervisor, the efficiency of DCC being able to read tanks off site is wonderful. We don’t even need to call them; they just come and fill the tanks. It saves us time and we can carry on with the job.

“Their communication is great too. Whenever I need anything, like a tank moved, they answer my calls immediately, and nothing is too much trouble.

“The cost savings, customer service and reliability make them the best choice. I’d recommend DCC Propane to any company looking for a better temporary heating solution. No questions asked.”

Adam Cain, Sales Manager at DCC Propane, who works closely with Allen, said: “For us, customer service is the most important piece, so our account management is very personalized.

“We come on site from the start, size the tank properly so it works with the heater, sort the permits, and install the tanks. We then manage the refills and tank moves, and communicate openly throughout our whole relationship. We do it all, so Allen gets complete peace of mind from day one.”