The majority of people have some type of propane tank at home—whether it is a small tank for grilling or camping or a large tank for cooking and heating your house. That said, many people are still concerned about the possible dangers of having propane tanks around their homes. After all, propane is a highly flammable gas. The good news is that the chance of your propane tank catching fire or exploding is extremely small. However, it is still important that you follow these safety tips to ensure you are storing your propane tanks properly.
Never Store Propane In Your House or an Enclosed Structure
The biggest thing to remember is that propane should never, ever be stored inside your home or any other enclosed structure. This includes your basement, garage, shed, etc. The chance of the tank exploding is small, but if it were to happen, it would cause a huge amount of damage that could potentially destroy the building.
Keep Your Tank Stored In a Cool Place
When choosing where to store your tank, it is always best to opt for a cooler place that is out of direct sunlight if possible. For larger household tanks, you could consider building a small roof over the top of the tank to prevent it from being exposed to direct sunlight. This also helps by limiting the amount of rain and snow the tank will be exposed to as moisture can cause the tank to deteriorate and shorten its lifespan. The main rule of thumb is that your tank should never be exposed to temperatures below -40 degrees or above 120 Fahrenheit.
Regularly Inspect Your Tank for Leaks
If you haven't used your propane tank for some time, you should always inspect it before using it again. This means visually inspecting the entire tank and the valve to make sure nothing is damaged. You should also use soapy water to make sure the valve isn't leaking. If you see any bubbles, this indicates that the tank is leaking. If your tank is leaking, it is important not to try to repair it or dispose of it yourself. Instead, you should call a propane company like Yavapai Bottle Gas to dispose of the tank for you.
If you have a large household tank, you usually don't have to worry about inspecting it. This is because the company that fills your tank should check it every time they come to refill it.
Keep Your Tank Away from Open Flames
Storing your tank next to your grill while it is in use is fine. Other than that, you should never have any type of open flame near the tank. When camping, you should keep your tank some distance from your campfire or any other fire source. You should also never smoke near a propane tank or use any tools that could create sparks.
Propane tanks are generally not dangerous. As long as you follow these tips and make sure to store your tank safely, you should have nothing to worry about.
