Gas Shack offers propane gas products useful year round

By Lesley Jenkins
star staff
ljenkins@starhq.com

   Warmer temperatures are just around the corner. Heating bills are dropping drastically. People are trading in soups and chili for outdoor barbecues. The Gas Shack is here to serve customers no matter what season it is.
   Owner Carmon Dugger sells and services gas grills, water heaters, gas logs, fireplaces, gas lights and more at the Gas Shack, located on 407 West Walnut Street in Johnson City.
   Dugger has more than 20 years experience in the propane gas business combined with the experience he has of owning his business since 1993.
   The business fills up propane tanks up to 200 lbs., including gas grill cylinders, and even does a tank exchange for propane.
   Dugger says propane heat is a popular auxiliary heating source during the winter months, especially because vent free heaters can be used if the electricity goes out.
   He began his business after the company he was working for stopped selling merchandise and only did service and installation. Dugger started selling propane three years ago .
   Two full-time employees and two part-time employees perform service work and installation on items sold at the Gas Shack or at any other business.
   Dugger said the propane gas industry is safe in comparison to electric. The main danger with propane is a gas leak. However, a sulfur smell is combined with the propane gas so people can smell it. Dugger said people don't develop a gas leak. The main way it happens is when a new piece of equipment is installed improperly or by inexperienced people.
   He says the instance of customers purchasing equipment and not having a professional install it increases the danger of having a gas leak.
   Eighty percent of the business is selling logs and fireplaces. The Gas Shack also services any problems at a rate of $50 per hour.