Summer Propane Safety Tips
Keeping you and your loved ones safe
Whether you’re cooking up a delicious salmon fillet on your propane grill or sitting around a pool heated to the perfect temperature with a propane pool heater, there’s so much to enjoy about late spring on the Upper Cape. And summer is right around the corner!
The Tasha Fuels & Propane team has called Falmouth home since we opened shop in 1994. We’re proud to say that we’re always there for our Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts customers — whenever you need us!
And a big part of that commitment is ensuring you know how to use your propane systems and appliances safely. Here are a few important propane safety tips for warm weather.
Recognize the smell of propane.
Propane does not have a natural odor, but propane producers add a gas to it that makes it instantly recognizable by smell. The additive is called ethyl mercaptan or methanethiol. It smells like rotten eggs, spoiled meat or skunk spray. If you smell this in your home or anywhere else, there could be a propane leak.
Responding correctly to a propane leak.
If you smell the telltale odor of propane, it’s crucial that you follow these steps:
- Get yourself and everyone else out of the area where you smell gas.
- Extinguish any ignition source, including open flames and cigarettes. Don’t touch electric switches, mobile telephones or other electronic devices, which can produce a spark.
- When you’re safely clear of the leak area, use a mobile phone or a neighbor’s phone to contact emergency personnel or Tasha Fuels & Propane.
- If it’s safe to do so, close the gas shutoff valve on your propane tank.
- Even if you no longer smell gas, do not return or reopen the valve on your tank.
- 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.
Propane safety tips for grill cylinders.
A significant majority of American grill owners use propane, and Tasha Fuels & Propane is pleased to offer cylinder refills at our Cataumet gas station.
Here are some essential safety tips when using a propane cylinder with your grill.
- Refill your propane cylinder right before heading home and transport it with two windows open. Never leave a full cylinder in an enclosed space, especially when it’s hot outside.
- Transport and store your cylinders upright, which minimizes the risk of leaks.
- Store cylinders outdoors and away from flames and flame-producing appliances.
- Check your cylinder and grill connections for leaks by spraying them with soapy water and opening the cylinder valve. If you see bubbles, there could be a propane leak. Tighten the connections and reopen the valve. If you still see bubbles, you might need to replace the hoses or tank.
With Tasha, you aren’t just a number — you’re a neighbor! Join our happy family of customers today!
