Safety Tips For Proper Use of Cylinders

Safety Guide For Propane Users

• No Odor Detected "ODOR FADE"
• Emergency Steps
• Important Safety Tips
  

Always keep cylinders upright and, when transporting, secure them in position.
(Bouncing around could damage the cylinder or valve).

1. Do not take into, use or store this cylinder in a building, garage, or enclosed area.
2. Keep out of the reach of children.
3. Avoid serious injury and property damage. If you see, smell, or hear the hiss of escaping gas...immediately get away from this cylinder! Call your propane gas supplier! L. P. Gas has a distinct strong odor!
4. Do not tamper with or attempt repairs on the valve or cylinder. Allow only qualified L. P. Gas Dealers to fill or repair.
5. Traditional cylinder connections are tightened counter-clockwise. However, the new "QCC" valve is rapidly becoming the industry standard with a clock-wise connection. Remember to check all gas connections for leaks with a liquid soapy solution, once pressure is on the system.
6. Never smoke or have open flames within 25 feet of any L. P. gas cylinder.
7. Close cylinder valve when not in use.
   

No Odor Detected - "ODOR FADE"

An odor has been added to your propane gas so you can smell it if it escapes - if there's a leak in the system, for example, or if an appliance malfunctions.

• Some people (especially the elderly) are unable to detect the smell of gas.
• Colds, allergies, sinus congestion, and the use of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs, may diminish your sense of smell.
• Cooking odors or other strong odors can cover up the smell of gas.
• On rare occasions, propane gas may lose its distinctive odor-this is called "odor fade". Air, water, and rust in a propane tank or cylinder may weaken the gas odor, especially if the valves were left open after the container has been emptied.
• Sometimes propane gas can lose its odor if a leak occurs underground.

If you smell propane gas in your house, camper, RV, workplace or around any gas equipment...

1. Put out smoking materials and other open flames.
2. Do Not:

• Operate electric switches
• Light matches
• Use your phone
  Any spark or flame in the area where propane gas is present may ignite the gas. This could include the spark in a light switch, telephone, appliance motor, and even static electricity from walking around the room.

3. Immediately get everyone out of the building, vehicle, RV trailer, or area.
4. Close all gas tank or cylinder supply valves.
5. Do not re-enter the building, vehicle, RV trailer or area. Use your neighbor's phone and call a trained LP-Gas service person and the fire department. Even though you may not continue to smell gas, do not turn on the gas again.
6. Let the service person and firefighters check for propane gas leaks. Have them air out the area before you return.
7. Have properly trained LP-Gas service people repair the leak; then check and relight all of your propane gas appliances for you.

Important Safety Reminders

• Don't enter an area where you suspect a gas leak. If you are in such an area, leave immediately!
• Be alert for propane odor when working in areas where propane is used. Even a faint odor may indicate a hazardous situation. If you suspect a gas leak, refer to #2 in the "If You Smell Propane Gas..." section of this page.
• Do not try to judge for yourself the level of danger of a gas leak by trying to determine if one smell of gas is weak or strong. All gas leaks pose a serious risk.
• Repeated pilot outages could indicate a hazardous condition. Don't attempt to relight the pilot, or service your equipment. Call your Propane Dealer.
• If you choose to light your own pilots, call your Propane Dealer for instructions.
• Before lighting a propane gas appliance, sniff around the area at floor level. If you smell gas, don't light the appliance!
• Shut off the gas immediately at the tank, if your appliance has been flooded. Do not use your gas system again until the wet or flooded equipment has been checked and serviced.
• Improperly vented or defective appliances can cause potentially fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. Have your propane system and appliances periodically inspected by your Propane Dealer.
• Don't tamper with or use tools to operate controls. If controls are difficult to operate by hand, call your Propane Dealer immediately.
• Keep combustible products, like gasoline, kerosene or cleaners in a separate room from propane appliances. Your appliance pilot lights could ignite fumes from these combustibles.
• Don't operate any propane gas appliance without reading the instructions carefully.