PROPANE SYSTEM SAFETY

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SMELL PROPANE?

TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY
❑ Extinguish all smoking materials and open flames.
❑ Do NOT touch electrical switches, light matches or create any other source of ignition.
❑ Get everyone out of the building and away from gas equipment.
❑ Go to a nearby phone and call your gas supplier.
❑ Do NOT re-enter the area until it has been deemed safe.
❑ A trained service technician must repair the leak, turn on the propane, check all propane appliances and re-light pilots.

Does your propane retailer provide a thorough inspection, leak test, and pressure test of your propane system for FREE?

Affordable Propane does!

It is important that your entire gas system be inspected – both outside and inside the home – to ensure that it is working properly and is installed to meet current safety codes. If your gas supplier just soaps the fittings looking for leaks and says everything is OK, then you got short-changed.

Affordable Propane will check your system for things like proper line size, appliance shut-offs, sediment traps, proper regulators, and gas leaks. We will also do a pressure test and leak test on the system. A thorough system check has the added benefit of allowing you to easily disclose to a potential home buyer that there were no issues with the gas system – and if you let your homeowner’s insurance agent know you have a current system check, you may even get a premium discount.

KNOW YOUR GAS SYSTEM

At Affordable Propane, we make an effort to familiarize our customers with their gas system, the smell of propane, and the steps to take if they suspect a leak. In addition, we provide our customers with emergency phone number(s) where an Affordable Propane employee can be reached 24/7.

 FOR YOUR SAFETY 

PROPANE HAS AN ODOR ADDED SO YOU CAN DETECT LEAKS.

You and each member of your household should know the smell of propane. Ask your service or delivery technician to demonstrate its odor. If anyone in your household cannot smell propane, or it smells weak, call us immediately. Propane is heavier than air and will collect at floor level. Carefully smell at floor level and in low spots to check for propane.

In an emergency can I shut off my propane supply?
Yes, turn off the main gas supply valve on your propane tank if it is safe to do so.  To close the valve, turn it to the right (clockwise) until tight.

Can I turn my gas supply back on again?
No.  A qualified Affordable Propane service technician must perform a leak check of your propane system before turning the gas supply back on.

Relighting Your Pilot Lights
If a pilot light repeatedly goes out or is very difficult to light, there may be a safety issue.  DO NOT try to fix the problem yourself.  It is strongly recommended that only a Qualified Service Technician light any pilot light that has gone out.

You are taking the risk of a fire or explosion if you light a pilot light yourself.  Carefully follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings concerning the appliance before attempting to light the pilot.

What to do if you run out of propane…

If you run out of gas and lose pressure in the system, a potentially hazardous condition can result. If you do run out of gas, follow these steps:

  • Turn off all control valves on all gas appliances.
  • Shut off the propane using the shutoff valve on the propane container(s).
  • Call us to advise you are out of gas and arrange for delivery.
  • Don’t turn the gas back on yourself. Let us do it. We will have to schedule your delivery at a time when you can be home, so we can relight and check your appliances and your system to ensure all safety controls are functioning properly and that the piping system is leak free.