Your Safety Is Our Primary Concern.
Kitsap Propane and Jefferson Propane take safety seriously. We do our part every day, and all of our staff are 100% certified in their fields of expertise. Propane is a safe and reliable fuel source. Like with any fuel, it requires certain precautions to keep it as safe as possible!
Here are a few tips to help you make the most of propane.
- Check your gauge regularly. This helps you know if you need a delivery, and can also let you know if your tank is suspiciously low, indicating a possible leak. If you’re not sure how to read your propane tank gauge, watch the How to Check a Propane Tank Gauge video. Remember, if your tank runs empty, it MUST be inspected before it can be filled.
- Practice caution throughout the year. We regularly provide seasonal safety tips to help you stay safe all year—everything from what to do in inclement weather to mowing in summer. Check back seasonally for tips.
- Schedule regular propane maintenance. If your tank hasn’t been inspected for a while, give us a call. We have certified professionals who can check your system.
The best thing to do if you smell propane, think you smell propane or if a detector is going off, is to leave the area. Evacuate your home or the area where you notice the gas smell. Once everyone is safely out of the house, call 911 or a local fire department to have them come out and take a look. You should also call your propane retailer to have them evaluate and repair your system and tank as needed.
In its natural state, propane gas is odorless. Companies that produce propane add a chemical called mercaptan to it to give it a distinct odor. Mercaptan is harmless, but it does make the gas smell like rotting eggs.
The smell of propane itself isn’t dangerous. Instead, the problem is in what the smell might indicate. If you smell rotting eggs or something like a skunk, it could mean you have a propane leak or that your propane system is malfunctioning in some way. Rather than being dangerous, you can think of the smell of propane as a warning sign that you need to vacate the area and call in a qualified technician.
Like other fuels, such as oil or natural gas, propane is perfectly safe for use as a home heating fuel. Propane itself is non-toxic, so it will not cause health issues.
Propane has several benefits when used to heat a home and for hot water. If you do not have access to a natural gas line, propane can be a suitable alternative fuel source. Propane also burns more efficiently than other fuels, so you end up using less of it.
One of the disadvantages of propane gas is that you need to keep the tank filled. Unlike natural gas or electricity, which travel to your home from a central source and are not stored on your property, you are responsible for making sure you always have enough propane for fuel. Automatic delivery can help to keep your tank full at all times, though.
Another potential disadvantage of propane gas is that it is flammable, meaning you need to take certain precautions around it. For example, you need to know how to store portable propane tanks to reduce the risk of fire and should also know how to care for a larger tank installed on your property.
Consumer Safety Videos
How to Stay Safe in the Summer
Summer is a time you try to think a little less about your propane tank. But you still need to practice caution during the warm summer months. Please follow these important summer propane safety tips:
- Do not place a burn barrel or fire pit near your propane tank!
- When mowing, keep at least 3 feet away from the propane tank. Use a weed trimmer around the tank.
- Do not chain an animal to the tank.
- Keep trees and branches trimmed around tank and driveways.
Don’t forget the summer is a great time to buy propane at discounted rates to keep warm all winter.
How to Grill Safely
- FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS. Make the manual your go-to resource!
- POSITION THE GRILL IN A SAFE LOCATION. Keep it level and clear of flammables (including overhangs and outdoor furniture).
- CHECK FOR LEAKS. Check at the beginning of the season and every time you hook up a new tank.
- FOLLOW PROPER LIGHTING PROCEDURES. Follow the manufacturer’s lighting instructions, and with all grill models, keep the lid open and don’t lean over the grill when lighting it.
- FOLLOW PROPER RELIGHTING PROCEDURES. If your flame goes out, turn off the gas and refer to your owner’s manual. At a minimum, with all grill models, keep the lid open and wait at least 15 minutes before relighting.
- BE PRESENT. Never leave your grill unattended.
