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Important Propane Safety Information for You and Your Family
!
IF YOU SMELL GAS
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).
4. REPORT THE LEAK. From a neighbor's
home or other nearby 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 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.
CAN YOU SMELL IT?
Propane smells like rotten eggs, a skunk's
spray, or a dead animal. Some people may
have difficulty smelling propane due to their
age (older people may have a less sensitive
sense of smell); a medical condition; or the
effects of medication, alcohol, tobacco,
or drugs.
ODOR LOSS. On rare occasions, propane
can lose its odor. Several things can cause
this including:
• The presence of air, water, or rust in a
propane tank or cylinder
• The passage of leaking propane through
the soil
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 gas.
SKU 65854
PROPANE GAS DETECTORS
Under some circumstances, you may not
smell a propane leak. Propane gas detectors
sound an alarm if they sense propane in the
air. They can provide an additional measure
of security. You should consider the purchase
of one or more detectors for your home.
GUIDELINES regarding propane gas detectors:
• Buy only units that are listed by Underwriters
Laboratories (UL).
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions
regarding installation and maintenance.
• Never ignore the smell of propane, even
if no detector is sounding an alarm.
APPLIANCE MAINTENANCE
LEAVE IT TO THE EXPERTS. Only a quali-
fied service technician has the training to
install, inspect, service, maintain, and repair
your appliances. Have your appliances and
propane system inspected just before the
start of each heating season.
DO NOT 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 that
can result in property damage, serious injury,
or death.
CO AND YOUR SAFETY
WHAT IS CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)?
You can't taste or smell CO, but it is a very
dangerous gas. High levels of CO can come
from appliances that are not operating
correctly, or from a venting system or
chimney that becomes blocked.
CO CAN BE DEADLY! High levels of CO
can make you dizzy or sick. In extreme
cases, CO can cause brain damage or death.
Symptoms of CO poisoning include: head-
ache, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath,
and nausea.
IF YOU SUSPECT CO IS
!
PRESENT, ACT IMMEDIATELY!
1. 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.
2. 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 CO.
3. If no one has symptoms, but you
suspect that CO is present, call
your propane retailer or a qualified
service technician to check CO
levels and your propane equipment.
For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
CO DETECTORS CAN IMPROVE SAFETY.
For an extra measure of safety, consider install-
ing a CO detector listed by UL on each level
of your home.
TO HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF
CO POISONING:
• Have a qualified service technician check
your propane appliances and venting
systems annually, preferably before the
heating season.
• 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.
RUNNING OUT OF GAS
DON'T RUN OUT OF GAS.
!
SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARDS,
INCLUDING FIRE OR
EXPLOSION, CAN RESULT.
• If an appliance valve or a gas line is left
open, a leak could occur when the system
is recharged with propane.
• If your propane tank runs out of gas, any
pilot lights on your appliances will go out.
This can be extremely dangerous.
• A LEAK CHECK IS REQUIRED. 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.
LIGHTING PILOT LIGHTS
IF A PILOT LIGHT REPEATEDLY GOES
OUT or is very difficult to light, there may
be a safety problem. DO NOT try to fix
the problem yourself. It is strongly recom-
mended that only a QUALIFIED SERVICE
TECHNICIAN light any pilot light that has
gone out.
YOU ARE TAKING THE RISK of starting
a fire or an explosion if you light a pilot
light yourself. Carefully follow all of the
manufacturer's instructions and warnings
concerning the appliance before attempting
to light the pilot.
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