Posted: February 26, 2024

What you need to know about propane safety

For many of us, our safety and the safety of our friends, family and homes is a top priority. That is why, if you are a propane customer, it is important to know about propane safety, what to do in the event of a propane leak and whether or not propane tanks can explode.

Propane tank explosions

It is not common for propane tanks to explode, but it is possible. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 600 propane tanks explode a year.

When following the proper safety guidelines, using propane and propane tanks is considered to be very safe. In fact, propane tanks are made with certain safety devices to protect propane users against explosions, breaches and ruptures.

However, the fact that propane is a combustible material means that there is always the possibility of a propane tank explosion.

A propane tank explosion can occur as a result of extreme heat. If exposed to extreme heat, both a propane tank and the liquid propane inside the tank heats up. When the liquid propane heats up, it expands, causing pressure inside the tank to build and surpass a safe pressure point. This increased pressure can cause a rupture, which can lead to an explosion if the tank is too close to any open flames or ignition sources. This is why it is recommended to always keep your propane tank far away from any potential sources of ignition.

What makes propane and propane tanks safe to use

Knowing that propane tank explosions are extremely rare can hopefully put a propane customer’s minds at ease. On top of that, there are many elements that make propane tanks and propane very safe. Here is a look at a few:

• When propane is being made, a chemical is added to it so that it gives off a scent similar to the smell of a rotten egg in the event of a leak. This rotten egg smell can be thought of as a warning sign to anyone in the area.
• It is pretty standard for propane tanks to have a built-in relief valve. Propane tanks are made with relief valves so that if a tank’s pressure were to build too much the valve would know to open so that gas could be released, which would decrease the pressure.
• Any propane professional that is filling your propane tank should know that that tank should never be 100% full. This is a safety precaution. In fact, propane tanks should only be 80% full at a time. This leaves room for the propane inside the tank to expand.

Propane and propane tank installations from Allied Propane

The technicians at Allied Propane are here to help Northern California homeowners with aboveground and underground propane tank services. We take the time to do all our installations safely. Not only do we take a thorough look at your property to pick out a safe location for your propane tank, but once your tank is installed our work is not done until we check to make sure your new tank is safe to use and that you feel comfortable using it.

On top of that, we are the leading propane provider in the Northern California Bay Area and we offer an automatic delivery option.

Allied Propane can help you and your families stay safe while using propane. Contact us today to learn more!