Winter Safety Tips for Your Propane-Powered Home

Nothing is more important than keeping your family safe – and winter is a great time to review with your loved ones how to handle emergencies in your propane-powered Maryland home.

Here are six propane safety tips to keep in mind this winter storm season:

  1. Know how and where to shut the supply of propane supply to your house (at the tank). If you’re not sure how to do that, contact us.
  2. Make sure everyone in your family knows the rotten egg smell of a propane leak – and what to do if they smell one.
  3. If you haven’t done it this year, replace the batteries on your carbon monoxide (CO) and propane detectors – and make sure you’ve got them installed at every level in your home.
  4. Teach your family how to turn off electricity, propane, and water in your house, and create an emergency preparedness plan that everyone can follow. For tips on writing an emergency plan, www.ready.gov/make-a-plan.
  5. If a winter storm is predicted,
    • Make sure you have enough propane to last for at least a week after the storm ends in case there are road blockages or closures.
    • If you own a propane whole-house generator, test it before the storm arrives (it’s a good idea to have your generator serviced at least once a year, and to run it for a few minutes once or twice a month if temperatures consistently dip below freezing).
    • If you suspect any of your propane appliances, equipment, or vehicles have been damaged by severe weather, contact us immediately to perform a complete inspection of your propane system.
    • Remember: if you have to turn off your gas supply for any reason, the law requires you to have it turned back on by a professional.
    • NEVER use an outdoor propane appliance (cooking grills, portable generators, etc.) indoors!
    • Help us keep your propane coming by clearing a path to your propane tank and keeping your driveway free of snow and ice.

Stay safe this winter storm season! Contact us to schedule maintenance for your propane equipment, or if you have any other propane safety questions.

For everything you need in home heating, trust the pros at Carroll Home Services – keeping Maryland homes warm for more than a century! Contact us to get started today!