Propane Safety Tips for Winter

The Coldest Time of the Year Brings Challenges

With winter looming, this is a perfect time to review some propane safety protocols that are sometimes overlooked.

Being aware of propane safety practices is important year-round, but the coldest time of the year brings us specific challenges and potential hazards.

Here are some tips designed to help you remain safe as in your Tennessee home.

If You Need Propane Repairs, DON’T Do It Yourself

Propane repairs present unique challenges that more often than not require extensive training and expensive diagnostic equipment to assess and fix.

Attempting to fix or modify a propane appliance can cause severe damage and lead to dangers like explosions or carbon monoxide leaks.

The bottom line: If you need a propane repair, don’t attempt to do it yourself– please contact your propane service company and request a service visit.

Tips for After a Storm

• If there’s been a snowstorm, clear a path to your propane tank at least one foot wide for your propane delivery driver. Be sure to clear any snow from your propane tank, including from piping, tank regulators, vents, tubes, and valves.
• Always clear any snow and ice from your driveway so the propane driver can safely navigate his truck.
• Use a broom (not a shovel) to clear snow from all vents and flues around your house to reduce the risk of toxic carbon monoxide gas backing up into your home.
• If you believe that any of your propane equipment has been damaged, don’t use it and contact your propane service contractor for an inspection.

Check Your Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors

Your home should have at least one CO detector on each level—and there should be one outside every bedroom. Once a month, test them, and replace the batteries if necessary. Every five years, replace your CO detectors. Follow the same procedure for smoke alarms.

Use Propane Gas Appliances Safely

Never use any outdoor propane appliances—including propane grills—in an enclosed space or inside your home. DO NOT use your propane-fueled stove for heating or for any reason other than its intended purpose.

Leave Your Home If You Smell Gas

If you smell the distinctive rotten-egg odor of propane gas in your home or around your propane tank, get everyone out of the house immediately. Don’t use any electrical switches or phones, and extinguish potential ignition sources like cigarettes or candles. Once you’re safely away, call your propane service provider or 9-1-1 for help.

Read more about propane safety.