Propane Safety For The Fall And Winter Seasons
Written on: September 30, 2019
Fall is a great time to enjoy the many benefits of propane, whether you are taking the edge off your outdoor party with a propane patio heater, cooking for the big game on your propane grill, or lounging in front of your propane hearth on a chilly night.
But fall is also a time when we have to think about propane safety in our home, since you will be spending more time there with your family and using more propane equipment like furnaces, space heaters and heaths.
5 keys to using propane safely at home in the coming autumn months.
- Remind your family how to detect and respond to a propane leak.
- Propane smells like rotten eggs; learn how to identify the smell, and teach your family members what to do if they detect the odor.
- Some people may have difficulty smelling propane due to a cold, or because of their age (older people may have a less sensitive sense of smell), a medical condition, or the effects of medication, alcohol, tobacco, or drugs. On rare occasion, propane can lose its odor due to the presence of water or rust in a propane tank. For these reasons, we urge you to install propane gas detectors, which sound an alarm in the presence of a propane leak; these units should be installed in addition to carbon monoxide detectors and according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- If you suspect a propane gas leaks, follow propane safety instructions prepared by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).
- Never attempt to install, modify, or repair propane equipment – NEVER try to modify or repair valves, regulators, connectors, controls, or other appliance and cylinder or tank parts yourself; this can result in property damage, serious injury, carbon monoxide poisoning, or death. Always hire a licensed propane technician to install and service propane equipment.
- Get preventative maintenance – Most propane safety risks are the result of preventable problems with your home comfort equipment. Have your propane equipment and systems professionally serviced every year.
- Check your CO and propane leak detectors – It’s a good idea to begin every fall with a quick check of your carbon monoxide (CO) and propane detectors. Check batteries, changing as needed. Most CO detectors have a shelf life of either five or ten years; check your unit to see when you need to replace it.
- Sign up for Automatic Delivery – Propane runouts are not simply inconvenient, they are potentially hazardous. Use FREE Automatic Propane Delivery to avoid propane runouts – and remember that if you run out of propane, the law requires you to contact a professional to perform leak and pressure tests before turning your system back on.
Your safety is our number one priority here at Ace-Robbins. Contact us if you have any propane safety questions, or for professional preventative maintenance and service plans for your propane equipment.
