Propane: What’s That Smell?

Follow Your Nose for Propane Safety

Propane appliances and equipment can greatly enhance the quality of life in your Delaware or Maryland area home – just be sure to use your nose, and your smarts, to keep your family safe when using them in your home.

Why does your nose matter? Because it’s your first line of defense in propane safety! Since propane gas is odorless on its own, propane manufacturers add a chemical to propane so that it smells like rotten eggs, making leak detection both easier, and faster.

What happens if you smell that rotten-egg smell in your home? Don’t panic, but do act quickly using the following propane safety precautions:

• Don’t touch or use anything that could cause spark, such as light or lamp switches, both landline phones and cell phones, or appliances.
• Get everyone out of the house immediately.
• Once you’re a safe distance away from the house, use your mobile phone or a neighbor’s phone to call your propane retailer. If you cannot reach your propane service provider, call 911, or your local fire department.
• If you can safely do it, turn off the propane gas at the main propane tank. Don’t know how to do that? Contact us now so you and all the adults in your home know how.
• Stay out of the house until emergency personnel or a qualified propane service technician say it’s safe to return.
• The propane service technician must inspect and pressure-test your propane system before it’s turned back on, then inspect all of your propane appliances and relight the pilots.

Some other things you should know about propane safety:

• If you have propane (or any fuel-burning) appliances and/or an attached garage, have a carbon monoxide detector installed in your home.
• Propane leak detectors are an important safety device, as they add a failsafe in case something like rust inside your propane tank inhibits the rotten-egg smell of propane gas. You can find propane leak detectors at your local home improvement or hardware store, or online.
• The best way to protect your home and family is to have your propane equipment serviced regularly. Regular maintenance also helps your propane equipment run more efficiently, and catches small problems before they become bigger (and more expensive) problems, both of which can save you money.

We put your family’s safety first! Contact Poore’s to find out more about propane safety in your home.