Winter is quickly approaching the Greater Delmarva region, and with that, the potential for wicked winter weather increases alongside it. While we all know that propane can help keep your home warm and comfortable during even the harshest winter seasons—you need to know about the basics of propane safety to ensure your home, and loved ones, remain safe all season long.
If you hear about a winter storm brewing, go out and check your propane tank levels. You’ll need enough propane to get through the storm—as well as several days after it ends since ice or freezing rain may make roads hazardous, which can impact or slow down deliveries. Is your propane tank around 20% full—or less—ahead of bad weather? Contact us right away to schedule a propane delivery.
And if you aren’t already, now is a good time to sign up for Automatic Delivery. We take your previous propane usage and factor it alongside the real-time weather conditions to plot our scheduled delivery dates to your home. No need to call—no need to check your gauges!
Propane is a very safe fuel due to stringent local, state, and federal rules—as well as high industry standards.
But there are still a few things you need to understand about propane safety and how to safeguard your house and loved ones if a propane leak occurs. All persons in the home must be aware of how to shut off the propane supply at its source, which is the propane tank.
If you use propane cylinders, you must be aware of how to safely store and utilize them. They should always be kept upright, and they should never be kept indoors or in a garage, sunporch, or similar structure. Be sure to visit the safety page on our website, which covers all these scenarios—and more!
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly if allowed to build-up. The danger of carbon monoxide poisoning increases during the winter. Each year, about 400 people die and 20,000 end up in the emergency room because of carbon monoxide poisoning. Here’s what you should do when it comes to preventing carbon monoxide poisoning in your home.
Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed on every floor of your home, as well as outside all sleeping areas, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Each time you adjust your clocks, test the batteries, and replace them at least once a year. CO detectors need to be replaced every five years
These are symptoms of CO poisoning:
Carbon monoxide poisoning is particularly dangerous for infants, children, the elderly, and individuals suffering from respiratory or heart issues.
If a CO detector goes off, or if you suspect a carbon monoxide leak, get everyone out of the house right away, then call 911 and Poore’s Propane.
Sometimes, you may not be able to smell a propane leak, whether the odorant was diluted by water in the propane tank or by your sense of smell being impaired by age, allergies, or illness. We strongly recommend installing propane leak detectors to protect against odor loss in the event of a propane leak.
If you have a propane whole-house backup generator, make sure it has enough fuel to run for at least a week if the power goes out. To verify that essential moving parts are lubricated, run your generator for about 20 minutes during the winter season, at least once a month.
Have questions about propane safety? Reach out to Poore’ Propane today. We’ll be glad to help.
