Propane Safety Tips For Your Home This Winter
Propane gas has one of the best safety records of any source of home energy. But as is true with any system that burns fuel, you have to take proper precautions to make sure your propane-fired equipment is working correctly – and know what to do if it isn’t.
Safety With Propane
Here are eight propane safety tips as we head into the teeth of winter here in Grafton and Carroll counties:
- If you haven’t had routine annual heating maintenance performed this year, schedule an appointment now; professional service is the best way to keep your equipment running safely and reliably through the long New England winter.
- Learn how to shut off the supply of gas from the outdoor propane tank, and teach all adults in the house how to do it. If you’re not sure how to shut the supply valve of your propane tank, contact us.
- Learn how to identify a propane leak, and what to do if you encounter one.
- Following manufacturer’s instructions and building codes, install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors on every level of your home, maintaining them as recommended in the owner’s manual. We also strongly suggest installing propane leak detectors to protect against the potential for propane odor loss.
- Never store propane cylinders indoors or in an enclosed area such as a basement, garage, or shed.
- Never use outdoor propane equipment (grills, portable generators, etc.) indoors: these devices emit dangerous colorless and odorless carbon monoxide (CO), which can pose a potentially deadly indoor health hazard.
- If severe winter weather is forecast,
- Check your propane levels, making sure you have enough gas to last a week in the event road closures disrupt propane deliveries; If you have a propane whole house generator, be sure to take its fuel use into account if you experience a severe weather power outage.
- Always listen to local authorities, especially regarding evacuations;
- Clear snow and debris from vents, chimneys, and flues after a storm to reduce the risk of CO poisoning; use a broom rather than a shovel to avoid damaging your equipment.
- If you suspect that any of your propane equipment has been damaged by severe weather or isn’t working properly, contact us right away for service and repairs. Remember: if you shut down your gas supply, you are required by law to hire a licensed professional to pressure test and restart you system.
Stay safe this winter – contact Pemi River Fuels today if you have any questions about propane safety, or if you need reliable propane delivery in any weather to your Grafton or Carroll County, New Hampshire home.
