• Avoid flames or sparks! Immediately extinguish all smoking materials and other open flames. Do not operate lights, appliances, telephones, or cell phones. Flames or sparks from these sources can trigger a fire or explosion.
• Leave the area immediately! Get everyone out of the building or area where you suspect a gas leak.
• Shut off the gas. If it is safe to do so, turn off the main gas supply valve on your propane tank. To close the valve, turn it to the right (clockwise).
• Report the leak. After you have left the building or the area with the suspected leak, immediately contact Beaudry Oil & Propane from a neighbor’s home or other nearby building. We may recommend that you call 911.
• Do not return to the building or area until an emergency responder or qualified service technician determines it is safe to do so.
• Schedule system maintenance. Before you attempt to use any of your propane appliances or heating unit, a qualified service technician must check your entire system to ensure that it is leak-free.

Propane smells like rotten eggs, a skunk’s spray, or a dead animal. Some people may not be able to smell propane easily, including older adults who may have a dulled sense of smell, those with a medical condition, or those who experience the effects of medication, alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.

On rare occasions, propane can lose its odor. Several things can cause this, including:

• The presence of air, water, or rust in a propane tank or cylinder.
• The passage of leaking propane through the soil.

Because of the possibility of odor loss or issues with your sense of smell, you should respond immediately to even a faint odor of gas.

In some circumstances, you may not smell a propane leak. Propane gas detectors sound an alarm when sensing propane in the air. These detectors can provide an additional measure of security; consider purchasing one or more for your home.

Follow these guidelines for propane gas detectors:

• Buy only units that are listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and maintenance.
• Never ignore the smell of propane, even if no detector is sounding an alarm.

CO CAN BE DEADLY! High levels of CO can make you dizzy or sick (see below). In extreme cases, brain damage or death can occur.

Symptoms of CO Poisoning

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea

If you suspect CO is present, act immediately!

• If you or a family member shows physical symptoms of CO poisoning, get everyone out of the building and call 911 or your local fire department.
• If it is safe to do so, open windows to allow entry of fresh air, and turn off any appliances you suspect may be releasing CO.
• If no one exhibits symptoms, but you suspect that CO is present, call Beaudry Oil & Propane or another qualified service technician to check CO levels and your propane equipment.

• Have a qualified service technician check your propane appliances and related ventilation systems annually, preferably before the heating season begins.
• Install UL-listed CO detectors on every level of your home.
• Never use a gas oven or range-top burners to provide space heating.
• Never use portable heaters indoors unless they are designed and approved for indoor use.
• Never use a barbecue grill (propane or charcoal) indoors for cooking or heating.
• Regularly check your appliance exhaust vents for blockage.

• Sooting, especially on appliances and vents
• Unfamiliar or burning odor
• Increased moisture inside of windows

LIGHTING PILOT LIGHTS

If a pilot light repeatedly goes out or is very difficult to light, there may be a safety problem. Do not try to fix the problem yourself. We strongly recommend that only a qualified service technician lights any pilot light that has gone out.

You take the risk of starting a fire or of an explosion if you light a pilot light yourself. Carefully follow all manufacturer’s instructions and warnings before attempting to light the appliance’s pilot light.

• Leave it to the experts. Only a qualified service technician has the training to install, inspect, service, maintain, and repair your appliances. Have your appliances and propane system inspected just before the start of each heating season.
• Help your appliances “breathe.” Check the vents of your appliances to be sure that flue gases can flow easily to the outdoors; clear away any insect or bird nests or other debris. Also clear the area around your appliances so that plenty of air can reach the burner for proper combustion.
• Do not try to modify or repair valves, regulators, connectors, controls, or other appliance and cylinder/tank parts. Doing so creates the risk of a gas leak that can result in property damage, serious injury, or death.
• Have older appliance connectors inspected. Certain older appliance connectors may crack or break, causing a gas leak. If you have an appliance that is more than 20 years old, have a qualified service technician inspect the connector. Do not do this yourself, as movement of the appliance could damage the connector and cause a leak.