What Does Propane Smell Like?

Recognizing the warning signs of a propane leak and knowing how to respond.

When you use propane to power your home’s gas-fired systems, appliances and amenities, you enjoy some significant peace of mind. We mean the peace of mind that comes from using a plentiful, American-made fuel with a more stable price than many other energy sources. You can also be confident that your appliances have a dedicated supply of fuel that is independent of the often unreliable utilities.

As an LG Jordan propane customer, you can rest easy knowing that our team will help you keep your home propane tank reliably filled.

But what about propane safety? When our team talks to homeowners in Raleigh and throughout our North Carolina service region, we provide helpful tips for using our fuel as safely as possible.

The Smell of Propane

Propane is odorless in its natural form. To aid people in identifying it, propane producers add an odorant called ethyl mercaptan or methanethiol, which gives it a smell like rotten meat, spoiled eggs or skunk’s spray.

While that makes a propane leak easier to detect, it’s also advisable to install UL-listed gas detectors near your propane appliances. Carbon monoxide detectors, while essential safety devices, will not alert you to a gas leak.

Symptoms of Propane Exposure

Propane is non-toxic. Even in the rare event of a propane tank leak, soil, groundwater, aquatic life, marine life and plant life won’t be harmed.
Still, inhaling propane vapor is an asphyxiation risk. Exposure can result in the symptoms of oxygen deprivation:

Low Exposure	Significant Exposure
Nausea	Pain or numbness in limbs
Dizziness	Convulsions
Headaches	Diarrhea
Drowsiness	Rapid loss of consciousness
Coughing	Asphyxiation
Irregular heartbeat	Heart Failure

Source: The Propane Education & Research Council

Responding to a Propane Leak

If you suspect a propane leak in your home or anywhere else (either because you smell gas or received an alert from a gas detector), please follow these steps:

• Get everyone out of the affected area immediately.
• Extinguish candles or cigarettes and any other ignition source. Don’t use any light switches, thermostats, telephones or other electrical appliances in the affected area, as they can produce a spark.
• If you can do so safely, close the gas-shutoff valve on the propane tank or cylinder.
• Once you are safely away, call emergency services and LG Jordan Oil & Gas.
• Emergency personnel and our propane technicians will check for escaped propane gas and perform any necessary repairs.
• Even if you don’t smell gas anymore, stay away from the area where you detected it. Don’t attempt to turn on the propane-supply valve.
• Please wait for our service professional to locate and repair the leak, check all propane appliances and relight your pilots before returning to the area where you smelled gas.

LG Jordan is the most trusted propane company in Wake County.

If you need a home comfort partner that can provide dependable propane delivery and a range of gas-fired equipment services, look no further than LG Jordan Oil & Gas. We can set you up with a safe, top-of-the-line propane tank, and we even offer wireless tank monitoring so you always know how much fuel you have.

Contact our friendly, professional team today to get started as an LG Jordan propane customer.