What to Do if You Smell Propane Gas

If you have a home that is powered by propane gas, a keen nose and quick thinking can be the most important keys to keeping your family safe.

Your nose matters because propane manufacturers give the gas a rotten egg smell (propane is naturally odorless) to make it easy to detect a leak. When that telltale smell appears in your Ontario home, don’t panic – but do act quickly, observing the following precautions:

• Avoid touching any equipment that could cause a spark (lights or light switches, appliances, telephones, cell phones, etc.); a spark can cause an explosion.
• Get everyone out of your house immediately and call 911 from a safe distance away.
• If it is safe to do so, turn off the propane gas at the main tank; if you don’t know how to do this, contact us – it’s important information for the adults in your home to know.
• Go back in your home only after inspectors say it’s safe to do so. Don’t use your propane equipment again until it is inspected by a professional.
• Remember: if your propane system is turned off for any reason – including a leak – it must be professionally inspected and pressure-tested before it can be turned on again.

Three other things to keep in mind:

• As of 2015, any Ontario home that has a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage must have a carbon monoxide detector. Fuel-burning appliances include furnaces, space heaters, water heaters, kitchen stoves and grills, wood stoves, gas dryers and fireplaces (wood or gas).
• While they are not required by law, propane leak detectors are also extremely important for your safety. Propane leak detectors add a failsafe in the event that something inhibits the rotten egg smell of the gas (rust inside your propane tank, for example, can reduce the strength of the rotten egg smell…more on this in a future blog). These devices are inexpensive and available at hardware stores.
• Be sure to have your propane equipment serviced regularly –it will keep you safer, lower your monthly bills, and help your technician spot a small issue before it becomes a more serious problem requiring costly propane equipment repairs.

Your family’s safety is always our priority! Contact us today to learn more about propane safety in your Ontario home.