ALAMANCE COUNTY -- There are plenty of ways to stay warm as the extremely cold weather moves into our area. Experts advise using heating oil or propane, since they're considered the warmest source of heat.
Lighting up a fire is one way to keep cozy as freezing temperatures blanket the Triad.
"Propane gas is warm as well compared to the electric heat pump. Gas logs, vent free gas heaters where you get the direct heat right off of it, infrared heaters, they do a fantastic job when it's cold," said Greg Eanes, Alamance Oil Company.
Alamance Oil Company, responsible for providing customers with heating oil, propane and kerosene, can also install the products into your home.
"It's not necessarily the least expensive way to heat, but an oil furnace certainly lasts 30 to 40 years if it's maintained properly. It is by far the warmest heat," said Eanes.
Covering all of Alamance and touching four surrounding counties can be tough to do when the mercury drops and oil and propane are in high demand.
"Our drivers might start out with 30 or more deliveries a day and can only get 25, so you have a certain number that you can't get," said Eanes.
Eanes say this is the busiest they've been, and he attributes that to the frigid temperatures. But as business increases they're forced to prioritize the deliveries.
"We suggest when they reach 30 percent in their tank to give us a call. That way that will allow us several days to put them on the list to get to them. Heating oil customers, as cold as it is right now, I wouldn't get less than 50 to 75 gallons," said Eanes.
Alamance Oil Company has two heating oil trucks and one propane truck. They see a 50-50 need for both.
Duke Energy is asking customers to conserve electricity through Friday to help reduce high-energy demand on the electric grid.