Safe Handling of Your Propane Grill Tank

Important Safety Information

Lots of households in western North Carolina use propane. Some use a propane grill tank to fire up their BBQ grill or power the cooking range in their kitchen. Others use it to heat their pool or deck. There’s so much propane can do in and around your home. It’s an extremely versatile fuel that can safely and efficiently power appliances inside and outside your home.

Chances are you also use propane cylinders for things like your BBQ grill. This grilling season, make safety a priority in your backyard. To prevent any damage to those propane cylinders and avoid any accidents, follow these safe handling guidelines for propane grill tanks:

• Always keep your propane cylinder in a secure upright position. It should never be able to tip over or roll.
• Don’t leave your propane cylinder in a hot vehicle for an extended period of time.
• Only connect a propane cylinder to an appliance that is turned off.
• Every time you connect a propane cylinder to your grill (or any other appliance), check for leaks.
• Be sure to follow all manufacturer’s instructors when connecting your propane cylinder to your grill or other propane appliances.
• Store extra propane cylinders outside and away from your home.
• Keep propane cylinders away from areas that could reach over 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Propane Leaks

If something goes wrong and there is a leak, do you know what propane smells like? By itself, nothing. Fortunately, propane producers make propane possible to detect with your nose by adding a strong, rotten egg smell to propane. Without this odorant, propane would be odorless.

It’s important that everyone in your family knows what a propane gas leak smells like and knows what to do in the event of a leak. This is an important part of propane safety , and safety is a priority at James Oxygen & Supply.

What to Do If You Smell Gas

Make sure everyone in your household knows what to do if there’s a suspected propane leak. If you suspect a propane leak, follow these steps:

• Immediately get everyone out of the house, building or area.
• Extinguish cigarettes, open flames, and any other sources of ignition.
• Do not use electric switches, appliances, telephones, or thermostats until you are safely out of the house or building, or away from the area around gas equipment.
• Turn off the gas shutoff valve on the propane tank or cylinder if you are able to get to it safely.
• Wait until you’re safely away, then use a mobile phone or a neighbor’s phone to contact emergency services and/or your propane provider.
• Once you’re away, stay away. Don’t go back to the house, building or area, or try to turn on the propane shutoff valve. Let the emergency personnel and the propane service technician do their jobs.
• Make sure the leak is repaired by a trained propane service technician. They or emergency personnel have to ensure that the problem has been safely resolved and any escaped propane gas is dissipated before anyone else is allowed back.
• The propane service technician needs to carefully inspect all gas appliances and relight all the gas appliance pilots.
• Don’t try to go back to the house, building, or area until the emergency personnel or propane service technician gives you the green light.

Our Family Business Is Here for Your Family

James Oxygen & Supply is proud to be a family-owned company that is focused on service and safety. We’re committed to providing our western North Carolina customers with quality propane at a fair price. With James Oxygen, you’ll get safe and courteous propane delivery and the best possible service.

You can trust the professionals at James Oxygen & Supply. Contact us today to learn more.