Propane Gas Leak Symptoms

Written on: January 21, 2025

Know the Signs of a Propane Leak

Propane leaks are rare, but they can happen.

Propane is a clean-burning and safe way to heat your home and water, and run many appliances. However, propane is a highly flammable gas under certain conditions. As with any fuel, there are certain steps to take to ensure you and your home are safe and comfortable.

Knowing what to do if you smell gas can help ensure the situation is resolved safely and quickly.

How to Recognize a Leak

Propane is has a distinct rotten-egg smell to help you quickly notice leaking gas. Make sure everyone in your home can recognize the odor. If you smell gas:

• Leave the area immediately.
• Avoid all flames or sparks—including lights, appliances, phones or cell phones—which could ignite the gas and trigger an explosion.
• If you can, shut off the gas at the main valve on your tank—turn the valve clockwise.
• Call us, or 911, from a safe area.
• Stay away until help arrives.

Do not go back in the house until a certified technician has confirmed that it’s safe. Also, never turn the propane back on yourself if it has been turned off. A professional propane technician needs to perform a leak test to check the integrity of the joints and seals around pipe fittings. Pressure tests are required by state and federal law, as well as insurance rules.

How to Shut Off Your Tank

If it feels safe, and you suspect a leak, you should turn off your gas at the tank. It’s not hard—but it’s important to familiarize yourself with your tank so you know what to do when it’s an emergency.

• Know where the shutoff valve is. You tank should have a large round lid with a hinge. When you lift the lid, you should see the gauge and a round knob that looks like a small steering wheel. That’s your shutoff valve.
• To stop the flow of propane, turn the knob all the way to the right, or clockwise. If you have more than one tank, turn them all off.
• Once you’ve turned off the gas, leave the area and then call us or 911.

Dos and Don’ts for Propane Safety

Among the most common causes of propane leaks are improperly installed equipment, and propane runouts. A propane runout causes pressure changes in lines, which in turn causes joint compound at connections to contract and resulting in a leak. Similar problems can happen when a propane appliance is installed with incorrect connections and pressure settings.

Here are other tips for safe propane use in your home:

• Don’t store cleaning fluids or flammable substances near your propane tanks.
• Set up automatic delivery to avoid running out of gas.
• Never attempt to relight a pilot light if you smell gas.
• Call us if a pilot light goes out frequently.
• Call for service if you see flames that are mostly yellow or you notice a significant amount of soot. Gas flames should be mainly blue when burning correctly.

Safety First

Your safety is important to us! All Pico’s technicians are trained and certified to provide safe propane delivery and equipment installation and services. If you have any questions about this information or any other propane safety issues, contact us.