Propane

How Propane Gets to Your House

  • Spend a Few Moments for Your Family’s Safety

    This module provides basic information about how propane gets from the container to your home.

    Click the Next button to move to the next screen.

  • Before we begin, let’s review a few safety reminders on the next three slides.

    Important Things to Know About Propane

    Know what propane smells like. It has a strong, unpleasant smell like rotten eggs, a skunk's spray or a dead animal.

    Know how and where to turn off the propane. This includes your outdoor tank and your appliances inside. For help, contact your propane provider.

  • If you smell gas, at any time, inside or outside your home:

    • 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).

  • If you smell gas, at any time, inside or outside your home:

    • Continued
    • 4. REPORT THE LEAK. From a neighbor’s home or other 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 a 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.

  • Become Familiar with Your Propane System

    • Propane is delivered to your home as a liquid and pumped into a specially designed storage tank.
    • The liquid changes to a gas before it leaves the tanks.
    • If you have an underground tank, only the cover will be visible above ground.

  • Become Familiar with Your Propane System

    The cover on top of the tank protects several components from weather and physical damage, including:
    • The tank shut-off valve, which you can close in case of an emergency.
    • The regulator, which controls the pressure of the propane coming out of the tank.

  • Become Familiar with Your Propane System

    >> CONTINUED
    • The safety relief valve, which will pop open automatically if the pressure inside the tank gets too high and close again once the pressure returns to normal.
    • The tank gauge, which shows the percentage of propane in the tank.

  • Become Familiar with Your Propane System

    • Propane flows from your tank to your home through pipes, most of which are underground.
    • You may also have a secondary pressure regulator on an outside wall of your home that reduces pressure.

  • Become Familiar with Your Propane System

    >> CONTINUED
    • A shut-off valve in each pipe can be closed to stop gas flow to an individual appliance.
    • An appliance connector is the final segment. This specially designed flexible tube carries gas from a pipe into the back of an appliance.

  • Maintenance Is Important

    • All appliances using propane must be properly maintained in order to operate safely, properly, and efficiently.
    • Only a qualified service technician has the proper training to install, service, maintain, and repair your appliances. Make sure you have a qualified service technician install and service your appliances.
    • Contact a qualified service technician to perform an appliance inspection once a year.

  • What Have You Learned?

    Choose the correct answer.

    What connects the pipes to the propane appliances?

  • What Have You Learned?

    Choose the correct answer.

    What will pop open automatically if the pressure in the tank gets too high?

  • What Have You Learned?

    Choose the correct answer.

    How often should a qualified service technician inspect your appliances?

  • What Have You Learned?

    Choose the correct answer.

    Propane changes from _____ to _____ before it leaves the tank:

  • Make Time for Safety

    Thank you for making time for propane safety. To learn more, visit: propane.com

  • Thank you for completing the e-Learning Module: How Propane Gets to Your House

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