Heating your home, cooking, and heating water with propane is largely considered safe. However, there are risks to using gas heat and appliances, and these can be mitigated by complying with certain basic safety measures. Once you have children in the house, it's important that awareness of these measures is passed down to them as well. Here is what you need to know about propane safety.

3 Propane Tips to Keep Your Family Safe

1. Notice New Smells

Propane is naturally clear and odorless. In order to make a potential gas leak more obvious, gas companies add an agent that smells similar to sulfur or rotten eggs. Make sure your children know what it means if this smell becomes present in the house. Instruct them to leave the home without turning on any appliances or light switches and then call for help.

2. Give the Tank Space

Young children might take an interest in large propane tanks and be tempted to play on or around this area. Make it clear that the tank is not a toy and consider placing a barricade around it. If you use a propane tank for grilling, ensure your kids don't have access to this either. Also, place a barricade around any gas fireplaces in the house. 

3. Practice Drills

Propane safety is similar to fire safety in the sense that you should have a plan ready and practice that plan with the whole family at least once each year. Ensure that everyone in the household knows where they should go to meet up with the rest of the family if there is a gas leak. Outline the preferred exits and routes to use and perform a drill that is treated almost as an actual emergency. 

If you need propane equipment maintenance or delivery, you can count on Tri-County Propane in Loveland, OH. These experts provide emergency refill services 24/7 and sell both small and bulk amounts of propane to make refills affordable for their local community. Visit their website or call (513) 583-1868 to schedule a delivery or a repair.