Propane Safety

Tips for using propane safely

At James Oxygen & Supply, our customers are also our neighbors. And we’ve been serving our western North Carolina neighbors since 1956.

That’s why we are dedicated to providing safe propane delivery and service, and why we want to emphasize consumer safety when it comes to propane.

What to do if you smell gas

Do you know what propane smells like? It’s often described as a rotten-egg odor. This smell is added to propane, which is naturally odorless, so leaks can be detected.

We want you to know what to do if you smell that rotten-egg smell in your home, business, RV or camper, or anywhere around gas equipment, so you can protect yourself and your loved ones.

• IMMEDIATELY get everyone out of the house, building or area.
• Extinguish cigarettes, open flames or 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 OK.

The steps above are absolutely essential to protecting lives and property, and need to be taken as soon as you smell gas.

Propane Safety Tips

Want more propane safety tips? The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has created the informative videos below to tell you all about propane safety!