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Frequently
Ask Questions and Safety
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"Our
employees take pride in their work and would be
happy to make sure your gas system is safe for
you and your family"
-- Brian Stolt, Manager, Rock Creek office
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What is Propane?
In its natural state, propane is an odorless and
colorless gas that is widely used to fuel appliances for
heating, cooking and other uses. While propane is used
as a gas for fueling appliances, it is transported and
stored as a liquid under high pressure in specially
designed containers referred to either as tanks or
cylinders. When liquid propane changes into a gas vapor,
it expands in volume by about 270 times, meaning that
propane is very economical to store and transport as a
liquid rather than as a gas vapor. However, this
characteristic also means that even a small leak of
liquid propane can result in a much larger quantity of
propane vapor, which can be especially dangerous in a
confined space.
Similar to any other flammable gas or flammable liquid,
propane is very safe when stored and handled properly.
However, if propane is not properly and safely stored
and handled, it can cause property damage, injuries, or
even death. For this reason, it is important for the
safety of the members of your household that they have a
thorough understanding of the properties and
characteristics of propane, and the hazards and risks
associated with its use. Contact your local propane
dealer with questions that you have about propane.
Properties and Characteristics of Propane
- In its natural state, propane is an odorless and
colorless gas.
- A chemical odorant has been added to propane to
give it a distinct smell.
- Propane is stored as a liquid under pressure in
tanks and cylinders.
- In most residential applications, propane is used
as a vapor.
- If propane comes in contact with your skin, it can
result in frost burns.
- Concentrations of propane may cause flash fires or
explosions.
- Propane vapor is heavier than air, and it may
collect initially at floor levels or in other low
areas before it begins to dissipate; therefore, to
check for the presence of propane, carefully smell
all over a room, especially in low spots.
- Even a slight gas odor may signal a serious
propane gas leak, and you should take immediate
action if you smell gas or suspect a leak.
- Consult your propane dealer for detailed
information about using propane safely.
Know the Odor of Propane
In its natural state, propane is odorless and colorless.
A chemical odorant has been added to give a distinct
smell to the propane. The purpose of the odorant is to
help people detect the presence of propane. It is
important that members of the household are able to
distinguish the smell of odorized propane. Under certain
conditions, a person may be prevented from smelling the
odorant such as:
- Colds, allergies, congestion or other similar
medical conditions.
- Use of tobacco, alcohol and/or drugs.
- Decline in a person's sense of smell.
- Olfactory fatigue from being exposed to the
odorant for a period of time.
- Odor masking where strong odors can overpower the
smell of the odorant.
- Leaking gas passing through soil may reduce the
smell of the odorant.
- The odorant in the propane may not awaken a
sleeping person.
Ask your propane dealer to demonstrate the smell of
odorized propane and provide an explanation about the
odorant.
If You Smell a Leak
- DO get everyone out of the home and away from
nearby areas.
- DO NOT attempt to find the leak.
- DO NOT attempt to repair your appliance or light
your pilot light.
- DO NOT turn on or off light switches inside the
home.
- DO NOT use a telephone inside the home or in
nearby areas.
- DO NOT light matches anywhere inside or near the
home.
- DO attempt to shut off the valves at the tank.
- DO call both your propane supplier and the fire
department for help from a telephone away from the
home and nearby area.
Propane Gas Detectors
- Propane gas detectors are available as an extra
measure to detect leaks.
- Gas detectors are only an aid and are not intended
to reduce or eliminate proper safety procedures when
a person smells the odor of gas, even when the alarm
on the gas detector has not been activated.
- It is extremely important to follow manufacturers'
instructions when installing a detector.
- When selecting a gas detector, you should choose
only detectors that are listed with the Underwriters
Laboratories (UL).
Maintaining Your Propane System
The propane system at your home or business should be
installed, maintained and repaired only by qualified
personnel. Call a qualified service technician to light
or re-light pilot lights on your appliances.
- DO NOT bleed gas lines into enclosed areas.
- DO NOT tamper with gas controls on your
appliances.
- DO NOT use appliances that have been flooded or
have become wet, since the controls can be damaged
or become rusty and malfunction, causing the safety
feature built into the controls to permit a
dangerous leak of propane.
- DO have wet or flooded appliances and controls
serviced immediately.
- DO NOT let your propane system run out of propane.
If it happens, turn off the gas valve on the tank or
cylinder and call your propane dealer.
- DO have your propane system and all appliances
periodically checked by a qualified service
technician for proper operation and safety.
Carbon Monoxide
- Not maintaining all of your appliances in good
repair can result in potentially fatal carbon
monoxide poisoning.
- Improperly vented appliances can cause carbon
monoxide poisoning. Symptoms of carbon monoxide
poisoning may include one or more of the following:
eye irritation, headaches, dizziness, sleepiness or
excessive moisture buildup on the inside of windows.
- If you identify any of the above-noted symptoms,
ventilate immediately (i.e., open windows and doors)
and call a qualified service technician for help.
Never use camping equipment or portable heaters that
are not designed for recreational vehicles.
- Consider installing one or more carbon monoxide
detectors inside of your home or recreational
vehicle, which may sound an alarm to warn you of the
presence of carbon monoxide.
Small Cylinder Safety
- Use only DOT-approved cylinders that are in good
condition.
- When using a new cylinder for the first time,
insist that your propane dealer purges the cylinder
to remove air and moisture in the tank.
- Propane will expand and contract depending on the
temperature.
- Cylinders should only be filled to 80% of
capacity.
- Propane is a flammable gas that has been odorized.
- Know the odor of the gas. The odor is for leak
detection.
- Leaking propane may cause fires and explosions.
- Before lighting propane gas appliances, check all
connections for tightness using a leak detection
solution.
- Be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions
before operating gas appliances.
- Never use propane from a cylinder without a
regulator.
- Do not use matches or lighter to check for leaks.
- Turn off the valves on the cylinder when not
using.
- Never store a cylinder indoors or in an enclosed
vehicle.
- When transporting a cylinder, make sure that it is
secured and in the upright position, so that the
valves are in the vapor space.
- Never smoke or have open flames near propane
cylinders.
- When filling cylinders attached to your vehicle,
be sure that all sources of ignition are shut off;
this includes pilot lights and vehicle engines.
- Call your propane dealer for more cylinder safety
information
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