Propane Safety Reminders For Winter

Among home energy sources, propane gas has one of the best safety records around. But like any fuel that you use inside your home, you need to take precautions when dealing with propane or propane appliances – and know what to do, quickly, if a problem arises.

Tips For Using Propane Safely

Here are some important propane safety reminders for the winter months to come.

1. Make sure all adults in your home know how to shut the valve on your main propane storage tank in case of emergency. If you don’t know how to do this, contact us – we’ll walk you through it.
2. Make everyone in the house – including your children – knows how to detect a propane leak – and what to do if you think you have one.
3. Prevent potentially dangerous carbon monoxide (CO) problems by:
   • Servicing propane appliances every year.
   • Installing carbon monoxide detectors, following manufacturer’s instructions for placement and maintenance. Be sure to replace batteries at least once a year, and replace the unit as suggested by the manufacturer (usually every five or ten years, depending on the model).
   • Installing propane leak detectors to protect against the potential for propane odor loss during a leak.
   • Clearing vents, chimneys, and flues quickly after a storm to maintain proper ventilation.
   • Learning the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, and what to do if anyone in your home experiences them.
4. If severe weather is forecast,
   • make sure you have enough propane gas to last at least a week in case of road closures; if you don’t, schedule a propane delivery as soon as possible.
   • flag your propane tank so that the fill valve is visible and accessible in high or drifting snow.
   • if your propane equipment has been damaged or is not working properly, contact us right away. Remember: if you shut down your gas for any reason, the law requires you to hire a licensed professional to restart you system.

For more winter propane safety tips, visit the Propane Education Research Council (PERC) website.

Stay safe this winter – contact Cherry Energy if you have any questions about propane safety, or if you need reliable propane deliveries in the North Carolina!