Your nose knows best when it comes to propane safety

Using propane and propane appliances like heating systems, water heaters, fireplaces and ranges enhance the quality of life in your North Carolina home.
However, you need to use your nose, and use your smarts, to keep your family safe when using propane in your home.
Why is your nose so important? It’s because your nose is your first line of defense when it comes to propane safety. Propane gas has no odor on its own. That’s why propane manufacturers add a chemical to it to make the propane gas smell like rotten eggs. That makes detecting a propane leak easier, and faster.

What to do if you smell a propane leak:

Do you know what to do if you smell that rotten-egg smell in your home? This is where your smarts come in. Don’t panic, but you do need to act quickly and follow propane safety precautions.

• Get everyone out of the home or building RIGHT AWAY.
• Do not touch or use anything like light or lamp switches, landline phones or cell phones or any appliances. They could cause a spark which could potentially lead to an explosion.
• If you can safely access it, turn off the propane gas at the main propane tank. If you don’t know how to do that, contact us so you and all the adults in your home can learn.
• Wait until you’re a safe distance away from the house or building, then use your mobile phone or a neighbor’s phone to call your propane provider. If you can’t reach them, call 911 or your local fire department.
• Don’t try and go back to the house or building until first responders or a qualified propane service technician says it’s safe to do so.
• The technician needs to inspect and pressure test the propane system, inspect all the propane appliances and relight all the pilots before the propane system is turned back on.

How to practice propane safety

Make sure you practice propane safety in your home with these tips:

• Homes that use propane (or any fuel-burning appliance) and/or an attached garage should install carbon monoxide detectors.
• Rust in your propane tank can inhibit that rotten-egg smell of propane gas, which means you may not smell it. Install a propane leak detector to make sure leaks are discovered even without the smell.
• Maintain your propane tank and propane appliances regularly.

Trust LG Jordan for safe and reliable propane delivery and outstanding service. Contact us today and learn about our commitment to propane safety!