Propane tanks store your energy-efficient fuel in its liquid form and provide a ready energy source for appliances like gas furnaces, ranges, fireplaces, and grills. Though they’re constructed of strong, durable materials, such as steel, tanks are not immune to occasional breakdowns. Below are three common problems that can signal the need for a repair or replacement of your current tank.

Does Your Propane Tank Need to Be Repaired or Replaced?

1. Rotten Egg Smell

On its own, propane has no odor and no discernible color. Fuel providers add a harmless but foul-smelling chemical called mercaptan to propane so that leaks can be detected by scent.

The scent is deliberately an unmistakable one: strongly sulfuric, like rotten eggs. If you smell rotten eggs anywhere in the vicinity of your propane tank, there’s likely a leak that’s causing some amount of gas to escape. Depending on the cause of the leak, this might warrant a repair or a total tank replacement.

2. Pilot Light Inconsistency

Most propane-fueled appliances, from furnaces and hot water heaters to stoves and older gas clothes dryers, have a pilot light. This is a small gas burner that provides an accessible ignition to light the larger burner on demand.

The propane tank channels a consistent supply of fuel to keep the pilot light going. If you have trouble keeping the pilot light lit, the problem could be that it's not getting enough fuel, which will require the services of a propane professional.

3. Visible Rusting

Over time, some slight rust on a tank is to be expected. But if the rust has reached a point to where it’s visibly wearing away the walls of the tank, a replacement is in order.

If left unchecked, the rust could corrode the tank so deeply that holes form all the way through the surface, resulting in dangerous gas leaks.

When you need tank repair or replacement services, contact Liberty Propane. They provide the homes and businesses of the Liberty County, GA, area with propane tank refills and replacements, repairs, and installations. They also install tankless water heaters and Lark Builders® storage sheds. Call (912) 408-3040 to schedule an appointment or visit them online to learn more about the company.