How Safe is Propane Gas for Home Heating?

Propane Is Safe & Reliable, but Here Are the Safety Facts You Should Know

When stories about gas leaks make the evening news, it can make it sound like propane gas is dangerous as well—after all, all gas is the same, right? Well, not exactly.

While propane is still a highly flammable gas under certain conditions, leaks within propane systems are rare, it’s why more and more folks are switching from electric or natural gas systems to propane—a safe and clean-burning way to heat your home and water and run many of your appliances.

As with any fuel, there are certain steps to take to ensure you and your home are safe and comfortable. Knowing what to do if you smell gas can help ensure the situation is resolved safely and quickly. Here’s what you need to know:

Gas Leaks

Propane has a distinct rotten-egg smell to help you quickly notice leaking gas. Make sure everyone in your home can recognize the odor. If you smell gas:

• Leave the area IMMEDIATELY.
• Avoid all flames or sparks—including lights, appliances, phones, or cell phones—which could ignite the gas.
• If you can, shut off the gas at the main valve on your tank—turn the valve clockwise.
• Call us, or 911 from a safe area.
• Stay away until help arrives.

Propane Safety Dos and Don’ts

• Don’t store cleaning fluids and flammable substances near your propane tanks.
• Do clean furnace filters regularly.
• Don’t let your tanks hit empty. The loss of pressure can lead to a variety of problems and will require pressure tests before refilling.
• Do set up automatic delivery to avoid running out of gas.
• Don’t attempt to relight a pilot light if you smell gas. If you do relight a pilot light yourself, follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly.
• Do call us if the pilot light goes out frequently.
• Do let us know if flames are yellow or you notice a significant amount of soot. Gas flames should be mainly blue when burning correctly.

Automatic Delivery Service for Added Safety

Many of our customers love the convenience of automatic deliveries. But automatic delivery service can also help protect against leaks. That’s because if an appliance valve or gas line is left open when there is no propane, a leak could occur when your tank is filled. In addition, when you run out of propane, pilot lights in appliances will go out.

This can be extremely dangerous if not handled properly. Automatic delivery ensures you won’t run out of propane!

Safety First

At Rand Wade, your safety is always our priority. All our technicians follow the highest safety standards for every propane delivery, and we invest in ongoing training to keep them up to date in the latest technologies and safety protocols available.

Remember that carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas produced no matter what type of fuel you use. It’s odorless and tasteless, but high levels can be deadly. Be sure you have carbon monoxide detectors installed throughout your home—in addition to smoke detectors—and change the batteries twice a year. You can also install propane leak detectors. They’re inexpensive and easy to install—and can help detect a propane leak before you notice the smell.

If you have any questions about this information or any other propane safety issues, please don’t hesitate to contact us.