Choosing To Protect Our World

Posted on: 29 November 2016

While propane tanks are generally safe for home grilling, there are common sense safety precautions that must be followed. Propane is, of course, a flammable gas, but it is safe as long as it remains inside the tanks.

Propane is pressurized into a liquid to fit inside a tank, and becomes a gas as it is released in a controlled manner through the pressure valve. In becoming a gas, the volume of the propane greatly expands.

Heat will hasten this expansion from liquid to gas so, if a tank becomes heated, a relief valve will allow some of the expanded gas to be released from the tank to avoid the risk of an explosion. It is this released gas that can pose a problem if not handled in a safe manner.

How can you know if propane gas has been released by the relief valve?

Although propane gas itself is odorless, the propane gas industry adds a chemical called ethyl mercaptan to the propane. This chemical has the odor of rotten eggs and can identify a release of propane from a tank.

While this is helpful, care must still be taken in the use, transport, and storage of propane tanks. The odor of ethyl mercaptan may fade over time, leaving consumers with little awareness of a release of propane gas.

However, with awareness and mindfulness, danger can be minimized. Check out the following tips:

Safety when propane tanks are in use

• Use propane only in a well ventilated location (never indoors)
• Don't keep a spare tank in close proximity to your propane grill
• Never keep the propane grill in the sunlight for long periods

Safe transport of propane tanks

Don't leave propane tanks in your vehicle for an extended period of time. Heat will cause the gas to expand and the closed vehicle will not allow the gas to dissipate, creating a high concentration of gas inside the vehicle.

Don't smoke when carrying propane tanks.

Storing propane tanks in a safe manner

Propane gas is heavier than the surrounding air, so tanks should never be stored in a basement or lower level of a home, or near an open basement window. It will collect along the floor level if it is released and pose a significant fire hazard.

Never store propane tanks in a closed area with poor ventilation or an enclosure that is exposed to strong sunlight. Avoid storing multiple tanks in a location without proper ventilation.

Propane tanks and propane itself are both generally safe to use, but as with all flammable and combustible products, safety involves both awareness and prevention. For more tips, talk to a company like Northwest Propane LLC.