Propane Safety

Useful information to protect your family and home

Propane is one of the safest fuels around, and the high-quality storage tanks and expert installation services that Tasha Fuels & Propane provides make it even safer. Propane is nontoxic and will not harm your soil or water, even if it leaks — just one of its many benefits.

Even so, it’s vital to follow these safety tips to protect your loved ones and your property in the event of a leak:

What to do if you smell gas

Although propane itself has no smell, part of the production process involves scenting it to smell like rotten eggs. This odor makes it instantly recognizable. If you smell gas:

• Immediately clear everyone from the building or area where you smell gas.
• Extinguish any ignition source, including not only open flames, cigarettes and cigars but also electric switches, mobile telephones or other electronic devices, which can produce a spark.
• When you’re safely clear of the leak area, use either a mobile phone or a neighbor’s phone to contact emergency personnel or Tasha Fuels & Propane.
• If you can, close the gas shutoff valve on your propane tank or cylinder.
• Do not return to the affected area or reopen the propane safety valve until your propane service technician and/or emergency personnel have thoroughly checked for propane gas and located and repaired the source of the leak. Even if you no longer smell gas, you should let a professional inspect the area.
• After the service technician has repaired the leak, ensure that they have carefully inspected all gas appliances and relit all pilots that might have been extinguished.
• Once the emergency personnel or technician confirms that the area is safe, you can return.

You should make everyone in your home aware of these steps and inform them of the proper way to shut the main valve on your propane tank. Finally, it’s a good idea to prominently post important emergency numbers where your family can find them, including the Department of Public Works, your local utilities and our contact information.

Prevent propane runouts

To ensure the long-term health of your propane storage and appliances, you should avoid letting your tanks become empty. A loss of pressure can cause a variety of problems. Plus, we might need to perform a pressure test before refilling. The best way to avoid running out is to enroll in automatic delivery.

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has many informative videos on propane safety!