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 Here are some propane safety tips for further education on the use of propane.
If you have any
further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us! |
General Safety Tips
- Always keep flammable and combustible materials (i.e. paper,
clothing, wood, gasoline, solvents, etc.) away from any open
flames that originate from your appliances.
- Know how to shut off the gas supply from your tank or cylinder. If
you do not know how, contact your propane supplier for instructions.
- Never place your head near or directly over the valves on your
storage tank. A sudden release of product from the safety relief
valve could result in serious injury.
- The propane liquid that is stored in your tank or cylinder can
cause severe frostbite if it comes in contact with your skin or
eyes.
- Never store propane cylinders or containers inside any enclosed
building.
Treat all propane gas odours seriously. Any odours may indicate a
very dangerous situation.
- Never assume that propane odour is the result of your tank being
empty. If the odour persists, you may have a serious leak. You
should always contact your local propane supplier if you suspect
a leak.
- Leaks that occur from open lines are extremely dangerous due to
the potential for a large volume of gas to be released over a short
period of time.
- All lines not attached to appliances must be closed and terminated
with threaded caps or plugs. If you have any questions,
please call your propane supplier.
- The regulator is an important part of your propane system. If it is
more than fifteen years old, ask your propane supplier if it should
be replaced.
Maintaining Your Propane System
- Never modify or repair your propane system. Ask your propane
supplier to send a trained technician to do the work.
- If an appliance or any other component of your propane system
has been tagged, "out-of-service", do not attempt to enable it.
The tag indicates a serious, unsafe condition.
- If an appliance has been added or removed from your system,
contact your supplier so that a technician can perform a required
leak test.
- Ask your propane supplier to conduct a regular gas safety check
to inspect your system for leaks and ensure it meets all applicable
safety standards. The technician will also check your tank, piping,
regulators, gauges, connectors, valves, vents, thermostats, pilots,
burners, and appliance controls, to make sure they are all in
appropriate working condition.
Safety Relief Valve
- Propane expands when heated. That increases the pressure in the
tank. Above a certain pressure, the relief valve opens to release a
small amount of vapour. That release keeps the pressure from
building up too much inside the tank. Once excess pressure has
been released, the relief valve closes automatically.
- It's important to keep your tank painted a white, aluminum, or
other reflective colour. A rusty, unpainted or dark-coloured tank
may cause pressure build-up, resulting in safety relief valve
discharge.
- Call your propane supplier whenever your relief valve pops off so
they can determine the cause.
Appliance Safety
- All appliances should be installed and repaired only by qualified
technicians. Improper ventilation can starve the combustion
processes in the appliance and create a situation that could
produce toxic carbon monoxide gas. Carbon monoxide is an
odourless and colourless gas that, in sufficient amounts, may be
deadly to humans. Usually, headaches and/or flu-like symptoms
are initial signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. If you suspect that
any of your appliances have been improperly vented, you should
discontinue use and contact your propane supplier or local fire
department immediately for an inspection.
- An appliance gas control is a precision mechanism that may
malfunction if it is exposed to water from flooding, storms, or any
other damaging environments. A flooded gas control must be
replaced by a qualified gas appliance technician. Damaged gas
control valves must be replaced.
Gas Grilling Tips
- Do not use a propane gas cylinder if it shows signs of external
damage, such as dents, gouges, bulges, fire damage, corrosion,
leakage, or excessive rust.
- Before grilling, make sure the propane cylinder is secured to the
grill as directed by the manufacturer.
- After grilling, the cylinder must not be stored indoors or within
any enclosed space.
- Always open the grill hood before lighting, and light according to
the manufacturer's instructions.
- Never use gasoline or kerosene to start the fire.
- Always grill in a well-ventilated are. Do not grill indoors or close to
the side of a building.
- Use foil or a drip pan to catch juices and avoid grease fires.
To see how much propane is inside your cylinder, run a wet finger
down the side. The wet streak will evaporate faster over the
empty part of the cylinder.
- To turn the cylinder valve on or off, always remember: "Righty
tighty/Lefty loosey."
Pilot Lighting
- Notify your propane supplier immediately if you have a problem
lighting a pilot.
- Never attempt to modify or repair the gas control valves or any
other component of a gas appliance.
- Never light a pilot if you smell gas.
- If you continue to smell gas, even after lighting a pilot, turn off the
gas valve immediately upstream of the appliance of stop the flow
of gas. Contact your propane supplier immediately to investigate
the situation.
- In most situations, it is best have a trained technician light the
pilots on your appliances.
If You Smell Gas
If you think you smell propane in your home, camper, RV, or
the area around any gas equipment, or if a gas alarm
signals the presence of propane, you should immediately
follow these suggestions:
- Extinguish all smoking materials and any other open flames or
sources of ignition.
- Everyone should vacate the building, vehicle, or area. Move away
without using electric switches, appliances, thermostats, or
telephones.
- Close the gas shutoff valve on the propane tank or cylinder.
Call your propane supplier and/or your local fire department from
a cellular or neighbour's telephone.
- Even if you do not continue to smell propane, do not open or turn
on the propane supply valve. Do not re-enter the building, vehicle,
or area. Let a qualified propane service technician and/or emergency
personnel check for escaped propane.
- Have a properly trained propane technician repair the leak. The
propane service technician or emergency responder needs to
determine that the leak situation has been fully resolved. The
propane service technician should check all of your gas appliances
and re-light any appliance pilots.
- Return to the building, camper, RV, or area only when the service
or emergency technician indicates that it is safe to do so.
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