Propane Safety

Enjoy maximum comfort and safeguard your loved ones, too

We are happy to report that propane has an excellent safety record. The industry is stringently regulated at federal, state and local levels, in addition to maintaining high industry standards. The team at East Coast Propane is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of our customers. It is our top priority.

Here is some information about our fuel and how to use it securely, safeguarding your family.

Does propane go bad?

The shelf life of propane is essentially unlimited. This makes it an especially useful fuel for standby power generators. No matter how long your propane has been sitting in the tank, it will be ready to go when you need it.

How can you ensure that your propane tank is safe?

Firstly, you should be aware that propane is nontoxic. Even in the event of a leak, it won’t harm water, soil, plants, animals or aquatic life. There are some ways you can make your home’s propane tank secure throughout the year.

We recommend that you clear the area around your propane tank of anything combustible. Keep weeds, dry grass and any other flammable items at least 10 feet away.

If a snowstorm is in the forecast, take a moment to mark the location of your propane tank and fuel lines with brightly colored flags. This will make it easier to locate them in heavy snow cover.

How should you respond to a propane tank leak?

Propane does not have a smell, but propane producers add an odorant that smells like spoiled meat, rotten eggs or skunk spray. This makes it easier to identify a propane leak. We also recommend that you install UL-listed gas detectors near your propane products. Carbon monoxide detectors, while vital for ensuring a safe home, will not alert you to a gas leak.

If you suspect a propane gas leak in your home or anywhere else, please follow these steps:

1. Get everyone, including pets, out of the house IMMEDIATELY and call 911.
2. Extinguish any potential sources of ignition, like cigarettes or candles.
3. Call East Coast Propane once you’re a safe distance from the site of the leak.
4. Do not use phones, light switches, appliances or thermostats as you are leaving the house. These can generate a spark.
5. If you can safely do so, turn off the propane supply valve on your propane tank.
6. Give emergency personnel and our service technicians time to check for propane leaks and perform any needed repairs.
7. Do not go back to the area of the leak or try to turn on the propane supply valve, even if you no longer smell gas.
8. Have a trained propane service technician repair the leak, carefully inspect all gas appliances and relight all pilots.
9. Only return once you have permission from emergency personnel or the service technician.

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has produced the videos about propane safety below. Feel free to watch them and reach out to the East Coast Propane team, if you have any questions.