Propane (also called LPG—liquefied petroleum gas—or LP gas) is a widely used fuel. It's transported and stored in a cool, liquid form that can cause a "freeze burn" or frostbite if it comes into contact with the skin. The liquid propane is turned into a gas inside a tank or a cylinder. In its natural form, propane is colorless and odorless. To make propane easier to detect in the event of a leak or spill, manufacturers add a chemical compound to give it a distinctive smell. Propane is flammable when mixed with air and can be ignited by many sources, including open flames, smoking materials, electrical sparks and static electricity. Propane vapors are heavier than air. For this reason, they can accumulate in low-lying areas such as basements, crawl spaces, and ditches, or along floors. However, air currents can sometimes carry propane vapors elsewhere within a building.

Most propane tanks are equipped with a gauge, which provides the approximate percent of fuel remaining in the tank. While this gauge is not completely accurate, it is a good indicator of how much fuel you have left. The tank gauge can be found under the dome of your propane tank. You will find black numbers ranging from 5 to 95 surrounding the circumference of the gauge with a pointer needle indicating a percentage. Tanks are considered full when the gauge reads approximately 80% to 85%. A propane tank will never be filled to 100%. This allows room for any expansion of propane vapor as outside temperatures increase. If you find your gauge below 30%, you should contact your local Campora Propane office to schedule a delivery. This will allow time for delivery to be scheduled before the tank gets too low and is in danger of running out of propane.

Propane prices are subject to a number of influences and will fluctuate throughout the year. As a general rule, propane prices will increase when the demand is high during the winter months. During the summer months, when demand is lower, the prices will decrease. Some of the factors in propane pricing include:

• Crude Oil and Natural Gas Prices - Although propane is produced from both crude oil refining and natural gas processing, its price is influenced mainly by the cost of crude oil. This is because propane competes mostly with crude oil-based fuels.
• Supply and Demand – While propane production is not seasonal, residential demand is highly seasonal. This imbalance causes inventories to increase during the summer, when consumption is low, and to decrease during the winter, when consumption is much higher. This is why propane prices tend to increase during winter months and decrease during summer months.
• Abnormally cold weather may increase demand for propane, putting pressure on inventory levels and causing the prices to increase.

It’s important to become familiar with the parts of your propane system so you can take quick and appropriate action in case of a leak or other emergency. Propane is delivered to your home in liquid form and is pumped into a specially designed storage tank. The liquid changes to gas before it leaves the tank. Propane tanks are typically painted white or tan to reflect heat and prevent the pressure inside the tank from getting too high. If you have an underground tank, only the cover will be visible above ground. 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 to stop the flow of propane to your home in case of a leak or other emergency.
• The regulator, which controls the pressure of the propane gas coming out of the tank.
• The safety relief valve, which will pop open automatically if the pressure inside the tank gets too high. The valve will close again when the pressure returns to normal.
• The tank gauge, which shows the percentage of propane in the tank.

Other components that may be part of your propane system are:

• Underground pipes through which the propane flows from your tank to your home.
• Secondary pressure regulator (if your system has one installed).
• A shut-off valve in each pipe that can be closed to stop propane gas flow to an individual appliance.
• Appliance connector. This specially designed flexible tube—typically 2 or 3 feet long—carries propane gas from a pipe to the back of an appliance.

Propane has a strong, unpleasant smell similar to 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.

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 aromas 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.
• The propane smell may not be strong enough to wake 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.

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 odorant 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 propane. If you are concerned that you or others in your home may have difficulty smelling propane, consider buying one or more propane gas detectors.

If you smell gas, avoid 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. Leave the area immediately! Get everyone out of the building or area where you suspect gas is leaking. 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). Report the leak. Call Campora Propane immediately from a neighbor’s home or other nearby building away from the gas leak. If you can’t reach Campora Propane, call 911 or your local fire department. DO NOT RETURN TO THE BUILDING OR AREA until Campora Propane, emergency responder, or qualified service technician determines that it is safe to do so. Get your system checked. Before you attempt to use any of your propane appliances, Campora Propane or a qualified service technician must check your entire system to ensure that it is leak-free.

Consider installing propane gas detectors for additional security. 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 especially 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 propane gas detectors, have a qualified service technician inspect your propane system and propane appliances periodically.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and toxic gas. Smoking a cigarette; idling a gasoline engine; and burning fuel oil, wood, kerosene, natural gas, and propane all produce CO. High levels of CO can be produced when fuels are burned incompletely.

High levels of CO can be generated by appliances that are defective or improperly installed or maintained. CO can also enter a home if an appliance venting system or chimney becomes blocked (for example, by a bird’s nest). CO can be deadly! High levels of CO can make you dizzy, give you headaches, or cause flu-like symptoms. In extreme cases, high levels of or extended exposure to CO can result in brain damage or death. Young children, the elderly, people with heart disease, and those under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication are particularly susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:

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

Carbon monoxide detectors can improve safety. These detectors are designed to sound an alarm when they sense excessive levels of CO in the air. We recommend that you consider installing a CO detector listed by UL on each level of your home. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding installation, location, and maintenance. These devices can provide an extra measure of safety. 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 the CO. If no one has physical symptoms of CO poisoning, but you suspect that CO is present, call Campora Propane or a qualified service technician to check CO levels and your propane equipment. To help reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Have a qualified service technician check your propane appliances and venting 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.

Signs of improper appliance operation that can generate high CO levels:

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

Serious safety hazards, including fire or explosion, can result. If an appliance valve or a gas line is left open when the propane supply runs out, a leak could occur when the system is recharged with propane. Air and moisture could get into an empty or depleted storage tank, which can cause rust build-up inside the tank and can decrease the concentration of the odor of propane, making it harder to smell. If your propane tank runs out of gas, any pilot lights on your appliances will go out. This can be extremely dangerous if not handled properly. A leak check is required if you’ve run out of propane. In fact, in many states, a propane retailer or a qualified service technician must perform a leak check of your propane system before turning on the gas. To avoid these hazards, we recommend you contact your local Campora branch to discuss setting up automatic propane delivery. Also, periodically check the fuel gauge on your propane tank. If the fuel level drops to 20% or below, call us for delivery.

Many propane appliances may have a pilot light—a small, constantly burning flame inside the appliance. (Appliances without a pilot light often have electronic ignition instead.) A pilot light is an important safety feature. It ignites the main burner when needed.

We strongly recommended that one of our qualified service technician lights any pilot light that has gone out. A pilot light that repeatedly goes out—or is very difficult to light—may signal a problem with the appliance or your propane system. If this occurs, do not try to fix the problem yourself. Contact us to come and evaluate the appliance. Accidents and serious injuries can occur when customers attempt to fix a pilot light problem on their own. IF YOU TRY TO LIGHT A PILOT LIGHT YOURSELF, you are taking the risk of starting a fire or an explosion. Many serious injuries occur when people attempt to light pilot lights. Proceed with great caution and follow these rules:

• Carefully follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings concerning the appliance. If the appliance is in a basement or closed room, thoroughly ventilate the area before lighting the pilot.
• DO NOT smoke or have any source of ignition (such as flames or spark-producing materials) in the area before lighting the pilot.
• Be especially alert for the smell of propane. Sniff at floor level before lighting a pilot.
• If you smell gas, do not light the pilot light.
• DO NOT allow any extra or unnecessary people (especially children) to remain in the room or area of the building where you are lighting a pilot.
• DO NOT try to light pilot lights in any area where other odors may make it difficult for you to detect the smell of a propane leak.
• DO NOT light the pilot if a musty or damp smell persists. These conditions can mask the smell of propane.
• DO NOT apply force or use tools on the pilot light or its control. This could cause damage that leads to gas leakage. Use only your hands to operate knobs, switches, or buttons.
• DO NOT attempt to let air out of gas lines by opening a valve or fitting inside a building or enclosed space. You may release gas and not be able to smell it.
• DO NOT apply oil to a sticky knob or button on a gas control valve. Oil can cause the control valve mechanism to stick and malfunction.

All appliances using propane must be properly maintained in order to operate safely, properly, and efficiently. Leave it to the experts. Only a qualified service technician has the proper training to install, service, maintain, and repair your appliances. Annual inspection is also important. Contact us to perform your appliance inspection. Be sure your appliances can “breathe” properly. Regularly check the vents of your appliances to be sure that flue gases can flow easily to the outdoors. Insects, birds, and small animals sometimes build nests in vent pipes. Other obstructions such as snow or ice may also occur. If you see evidence of this, call a qualified service technician. Also, clear the area around your appliance to be sure plenty of air can reach the burner for proper combustion. NEVER store combustible materials near appliances. Watch for yellow flames or soot build-up. When appliances are operating properly, propane burns with a blue flame. If you see yellow flames, or notice significant amounts of soot on any equipment, the gas may not be burning completely. This can create carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, and poisonous gas. Contact us immediately if any of the above conditions occur.

Appliance connectors are the final section of the system that brings gas to your appliances. It’s important that all appliance connectors are properly inspected, installed, and maintained by a qualified service technician.

Have connectors checked when moving or replacing appliances. Connectors can wear out from too much moving, bending, or corrosion. Connectors should be checked by a qualified service technician whenever the appliance is replaced or moved from its location. Use only approved appliance connectors. Make sure that all connectors and gas piping/tubing that bring propane to your appliances are installed by a qualified service technician and approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Have older appliance connectors inspected. Over time, some types of appliance connectors can crack or break, resulting in a serious gas leak and the possibility of fire or explosion. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has warned that certain types of older connectors are extremely dangerous. If you have an appliance that is more than 20 years old, have a qualified service technician inspect the connectors to be sure they are safe and meet current safety-code requirements. DO NOT MOVE AN APPLIANCE YOURSELF to check the connector; this might damage the connector and create a leak.

Treat connectors with care. When an appliance is moved, be careful not to damage the appliance connector (the flexible tubing that brings gas to the unit). Older connectors can crack if flexed or twisted, which can lead to a gas leak. Is the appliance designed to use propane? Be sure that any new or used appliance being installed is designed for use with propane. Natural gas appliances SHOULD NOT be used with propane unless a qualified service technician has made required adjustments to the appliance. Have the appliance checked out before you use it. Be sure that the appliance is properly installed and that all controls and valves operate correctly. Contact a qualified service technician for assistance. Cap or plug unattached gas lines. If you move a gas appliance and disconnect it from a gas line, be sure to contact Campora Propane to close, cap, or plug the open gas line. Any connectors or gas line not connected to an appliance can leak gas, or can be damaged if water accumulates inside. The valve on any unattached gas lines must be closed, and the open end must be sealed by installing a threaded cap or plug.

If you’re leaving your home for an extended period, consider closing all propane supply valves. This includes the main gas supply valve on the propane tank as well as gas supply valves located near individual appliances. WHEN YOU RETURN to your home after an extended absence, contact Campora Propane to conduct a leak check before the propane is turned on and to re-light the pilot lights.

Do not under any circumstance 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. Call Campora Propane immediately if you are unable to operate any part of your propane system, or if you think an appliance or other device is not operating properly. We will inspect, adjust, repair or replace any part of your propane system. Your propane system is designed for safety. Propane cylinders, tanks, and appliances incorporate special components (such as valves, connectors, controls, burners, and pilot lights) to keep them safe for use. Damaging these components can cause gas leaks.

Use the right kind of equipment for temporary or portable space heating. Some propane space heaters are designed only for outdoor use. Others are designed only for indoor use. Check your owner’s manual or ask Campora to be sure you are using the right kind of heater. Do not use an outdoor heater indoors. High levels of CO can be generated from heaters that are not designed for indoor use. High levels of CO can make you dizzy, give you headaches, or cause flu-like symptoms. In extreme cases, extended exposure to CO can result in brain damage or death. Read your space heater manual. The appliance manufacturer’s manual that came with your space heater tells how to set up and operate it safely. Read the entire manual and carefully follow all directions.