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PROPANE: WHAT’S THAT SMELL?

smelling propane

TRUST YOUR NOSE WHEN IT COMES TO PROPANE SAFETY

When it comes to using propane safely in your New Jersey home, your nose and your smarts are your two best tools.

Your nose is your first defense against a propane gas leak because propane manufacturers add a chemical to propane to make it smell like rotten eggs (on its own, propane gas is actually odorless).

What should you do if you smell that rotten-egg smell of propane gas in your home? That’s where using your smarts comes in. Don’t panic, but act quickly and follow these propane safety precautions:

  • Get everyone out of the house right away.
  • Before you’re out of the house, don’t touch anything that can create a spark, such as appliances, lamp or light switches, and landline and cell phones.
  • Only if you can safely do this, turn off the propane gas at the main propane tank.
  • If you don’t know how to do that, now’s the time to learn! Contact Blue Flame and we’ll help you make sure you and all the adults in your home know how to do it.
  • Make sure you are safely away from the house, use your mobile phone or a neighbor’s phone to call 911.
  • Don’t go back into the house until emergency responders or a qualified propane service technician says it is safe to do so.
  • Before your propane system is turned back on, the technician has to inspect and pressure-test it, inspect all propane appliances in the house, and relight all the pilots.

Here are some tips on propane safety for your home:

  • Homes with propane (or any fuel-burning) appliance, and/or attached garage, should have a carbon monoxide detector installed.
  • Things like rust in your propane tank can inhibit the smell of propane gas, which means you may not smell it. Make sure propane leaks are discovered even if that happens by installing a propane leak detector.
  • Regular maintenance of your propane tank and propane appliances and equipment is the best way to protect your home. It also helps your appliances run more efficiently.

Blue Flame is dedicated to your family’s safety. Contact us to find out more about how we practice propane safety and how we can help you do it, too!