S&D Petroleum Learning Center

Propane

Propane is normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid and used as a cooking, residential heating, and even as a fuel for non-electric refrigerators. It is derived from petroleum products during oil or natural gas processing. The odorant ethanethiol is also added so that people can easily smell the gas. Propane is a clean burning fuel, much cleaner than gasoline combustion, and is stored outside of the home making it a very convenient and space efficient choice.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SMELL GAS?

1. NO FLAMES OR SPARKS! Immediately put out all smoking materials and other open flames. Do not operate lights, appliances, telephones, or cell phones. Flames or sparks from these sources can trigger an explosion or a fire.
2. LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY! Get everyone out of the building or area where you suspect gas is leaking.
3. SHUT OFF THE GAS. Turn off the main gas supply valve on your propane tank if it is safe to do so. To close the valve, turn it to the right (clockwise).
4. REPORT THE LEAK. From a neighbor's home or other nearby building away from the gas leak, call your propane retailer right away. If you can't reach your propane retailer, call 911 or your local fire department.
5. DO NOT RETURN TO THE BUILDING OR AREA until your propane retailer, emergency responder, or qualified service technician determines that it is safe to do so.
6. GET YOUR SYSTEM CHECKED. Before you attempt to use any of your propane appliances, your propane retailer or a qualified service technician must check your entire system to ensure that it is leak-free.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE SMELL OF PROPANE

Propane has a strong, unpleasant smell like rotten eggs, a skunk's spray, or a dead animal. Propane manufacturers add the smell deliberately to help alert customers to propane leaks, which can create a safety hazard.

TAKE THE SNIFF TEST. Teach everyone in your home or building what propane smells like. You can use the blue circle on the page opposite of the inside front cover. Or, ask your propane retailer for a demonstration.

CAN YOU SMELL IT?

• It may be hard for some people to smell propane for the following reasons:
• They have a cold, allergies, sinus congestion, or another medical condition.
• Their sense of smell is reduced due to use of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs.
• Tobacco smoke, cooking odors, and other strong odors can mask the smell of propane.
• As people age, their sense of smell can become less sensitive.
• If the smell of propane is present in the air over a period of time, "odor fatigue" can occur.
• The nose "gets tired," and a person no longer smells the propane odor.
• The propane smell may not be strong enough to wake up someone who is sleeping.
• The propane smell may be in a location (basement or attic) where it is not detected by people in other areas of the building.
• A phenomenon called "odor loss" can occur-an unintended reduction in the concentration of the odor of propane (see below).

WHAT IS ODOR LOSS?

ODOR LOSS ALSO CAN DIMINISH PROPANE'S SMELL. Odor Loss. On rare occasions, propane can lose its odor. Several things can cause this including:

• Air, water, or rust in a propane tank or cylinder can reduce propane odor concentration.
• If the propane is leaking underground, its passage through soil may reduce the smell of propane.
• The propane odor may stick to the inside surfaces of gas piping and distribution systems and possibly other materials.

Since there is a possibility of odor loss or problems with your sense of smell, you should respond immediately to even a faint odor of gas.

IF YOU ARE CONCERNED that you or others in your home may have difficulty smelling propane, consider buying one or more propane gas detectors.

FACTS ABOUT PROPANE GAS DETECTORS

CONSIDER INSTALLING GAS DETECTORS.

• Under some circumstances, you may not smell a propane leak. Propane gas detectors are designed to sound an alarm if they sense the presence of propane. Their operation does not depend on the concentration of odorant in the air, just the propane concentration at the detector.
• We recommend that you consider installing one or more propane gas detectors. This is important if you or others in your home have difficulty smelling propane, or if appliances are in little-used areas in your home where the smell of propane might not be detected. Detectors can provide an additional measure of security.

DETECTOR QUALITY IS IMPORTANT. Be sure the units you buy are listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). To be sure propane gas detectors operate properly, install and maintain them as the manufacturer recommends.

TRUST YOUR NOSE. Never ignore the smell of propane, even if no detector is sounding an alarm to signal the presence of propane. However, if a detector is sounding an alarm, treat it as an emergency and act immediately, even if you do not smell the propane.

CHECK YOUR PROPANE SYSTEM. Even if you install gas detectors, have a qualified service technician inspect your propane system and propane appliances periodically.