Important Propane Safety Information About Propane Gas

If you use propane in your home, you know just how just how big a difference it can make in your day-to-day life.

Propane gives you environmentally friendly, energy efficient, and cost-effective home heating and water heating. You get to cook with a range that provides instant temperature control and even cooking. Propane fireplaces give you cozy comfort with none of the work or mess of a wood-burning fireplace. Outdoors, propane is a much more effective and affordable option for pool and spa heating than electricity. You can also use propane for your grill, firepit, insect trap, and more!

While propane has a stellar safety record, thanks to strong government regulation and high industry standards, you still need to know a thing or two about propane safety.

We’ve covered propane safety topics like what to do if you smell gas. Today, we’re going to talk about the color of a propane flame.

Why Does Propane Burn Blue—Not Orange?

Before it ignites, propane itself is colorless. When it begins to burn, propane gas is a different color than other materials that burn, such as wood or oil. When the ratio of fuel to air is correct, there is enough oxygen for complete combustion of propane. The gas molecules in the flame are ionized and the propane flame is blue—as it should be.

Complete combustion and a blue flame mean that your propane is burning at its full heat so you aren’t wasting any fuel.

What Does An Orange Or Yellow Propane Flame Mean?

When propane flames are orange or yellow in color, it means the propane on those parts of the flame is not being completely burned. On the burners of a propane range, the cause may be spills or burned bits of food that have blocked parts of the burner.

How wasteful are yellow or orange flames? In complete combustion with a blue flame, the temperature of a propane flame is 3,596˚ Fahrenheit. With a yellow flame, the flame’s temperature is 1,832˚ Fahrenheit. You’re getting only about half the heat. Think about how that can affect your cooking. You’re not going to get a good sear on that steak, or a nice crust on those hash browns. And with home heating or water heating, your energy costs could soar because of that inefficiency.

Yellow or orange flames can also be dangerous. That incomplete combustion can lead to a carbon monoxide buildup in your home. If you are seeing yellow or orange flames, contact your equipment service technician. They can diagnose and fix the problem.

Get safe, reliable propane delivery by becoming a Blue Flame customer! Every day, thousands of businesses and families just like yours in Southern New Jersey rely on Blue Flame to keep them comfortable with an always reliable supply of propane. Let us show you what a difference we can make in your propane home or business.