If you depend on propane-powered appliances in your Tennessee home, you know that a propane gas leak has a distinctive odor. In its natural form, propane is odorless, but manufacturers deliberately add a chemical compound to give it a strong unpleasant smell. This odorized propane is usually described as something similar to the odor of rotten eggs, a skunk’s spray or a dead animal.
But what if something prevents you from detecting that telltale odor? Sometimes, conditions in your home – or in your body – can make it harder to pick up propane’s scent. “Odor loss” can be caused by:
Too much air, water, or rust in your propane tank
A propane leak underground (soil diffuses propane’s odor)
Odor “sticking” to the inside of the propane distribution pipes
Diminished sense of smell, caused by old age, sinus congestion or other medical conditions
With all this in mind, it is important to take these two precautions for propane leaks:
Install a propane gas detector (or detectors, depending on the size and layout of your home). A propane gas detector is an inexpensive but vital piece of safety equipment; follow manufacturer’s instructions for placement and maintenance.
When in doubt, follow propane safety procedures. React immediately to even the faintest propane odor, following propane safety measures to get your family to safety.
If you think you smell gas, do the following:
Extinguish all smoking materials and any open flames or other sources of ignition. Everyone should vacate the building, vehicle or area.
Move away without using any electric switches, appliances, thermostats or telephones.
If it is safe to do so, close the gas shutoff valve on the propane tank or cylinder.
Call your propane supplier or your local fire department from a mobile phone or a neighbor’s telephone.
Even if you do not continue to smell propane, do not open or turn on the propane supply valve. Do not reenter the building, vehicle or area. Let a qualified propane service technician or emergency personnel check for escaped propane.
Have a properly trained propane service technician repair the leak. The propane service technician or emergency responder needs to determine that the leak situation has been fully resolved. The propane service technician should check all of your gas appliances and relight any appliance pilots.
Return to your home only when the service technician or emergency responder indicates that it is safe to do so.
