Propane Safety Tips for your Home, Farm, or Business

General Tips

To readily recognize a leak, know what propane smells like. It has a strong, unpleasant smell like rotten eggs, a skunk's spray or a dead animal. Legacy has pamphlets available with a scratch-and-sniff spot so that your entire family can recognize the smell. If you are a current propane customer, you received this pamphlet at your first delivery, and we mail you one every year. Propane leak detectors, similar to carbon monoxide detectors, are available. Call us for information!

If you smell a leak, immediately evacuate everyone from the building and call us or the fire department from your neighbor's phone. DO NOT remain in the building, use the telephone or light switches or try to determine the source of the leak by yourself.

Be aware of where gas service lines are located, especially when working in your yard.

Water can damage the internal safety mechanism in the gas controls of an appliance. If you suspect that your appliance gas controls may have gotten wet (because of flooding, for example), have a trained technician replace them immediately.

Heating Appliances

All furnaces can collect lint and dirt and should be cleaned regularly. Call us for information on proper cleaning, and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Water Heaters

Drain your tank periodically (until water runs clean - usually 2 to 3 gallons) to get rid of sediment buildup on the bottom of the tank.

Ranges

Have your unit serviced if the burner flame is not blue. The blue flame indicates complete combustion. A yellow flame means air inlets are clogged or burners need adjustment. If you see yellow flame, call us immediately. Do not cover the oven bottom with foil - it can restrict air circulation.

Never use gas ranges for home heating!!

~Information obtained from www.npga.org