Propane Safety Information
Know how to keep your home and loved ones safe with these tips
You’re more than our customers at Medway Oil & Propane. You’re our friends and neighbors, some of you for decades. We care about you and are committed to safe propane delivery and service for your home.
Thanks to strict government regulations and the high propane industry safety standards upheld by us at Medway Oil & Propane, propane has an extraordinarily strong safety record.
I smell gas: What do I do?
While propane is one of the safer energy sources available today, you still have to be able to protect yourself if you smell propane gas.
The first thing you need to know is what exactly propane gas smells like. In its natural state, propane has no odor. An odorant, usually ethyl mercaptan, is added during processing to make propane gas leaks easier to detect. The odorant is most commonly described as smelling like rotten eggs.
Now that you know what propane smells like, here’s what to do if you detect that smell in your home.
- Extinguish any sources of ignition, such as cigarettes or candles.
- Get everyone out of the house right away.
- Avoid using any light switches, thermostats, telephones or appliances until you are a considerable distance away from the house.
- Close the gas shutoff valve on the propane tank or cylinder if you can safely access it. All adults in your home must know how to do this. Contact us if you have questions, and we’ll gladly help.
- Once you are safely away, call 911 and Medway Oil & Propane.
- Allow emergency personnel and certified propane service technicians the time to check for escaped propane and perform any necessary repairs.
- Regardless of whether the gas odor has faded or not, steer clear from where it was detected and DO NOT attempt to turn on the propane supply valve.
- Let the Medway Oil & Propane service technician repair the leak, carefully inspect all gas appliances, and relight all pilots.
- Do not return until you have been given the all clear by emergency personnel or the service technician.
Educating yourself about the safe use and handling of propane is essential for your protection. Check out the propane-safety-themed videos from the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) below to learn more.
