4 Safety Myths About Having A Propane Tank On Your Property

If you have a home that has propane appliances, having a propane tank installed for storing fuel on your property is a must. Do not let any of the prevailing myths about having a propane tank on your property get in the way of getting your new tank installed. 

Myth: You will suffocate if the propane tank has a leak. 

Technically, propane could suffocate you if you inhaled enough of it. However, it would be practically unheard of for someone to suffocate due to propane gas exposure unless they were locked in a small room with a leaking tank and that room was pretty much airtight. The gas evaporates pretty quickly when it leaks from an installed propane tank outside in the open air. 

Myth: Propane is hard to smell so you'd never know if you had a leak. 

Propane is odorless, that much is actually true. However, during the production process, manufacturers utilize specific odorants to give the gas a telltale smell. Some say the propane smells a bit like sulfur or rotten eggs, and some people claim propane smells a bit sweet. In any case, if you have a tank installed on your property and you smell anything unusual, it is a must to reach out to the company that performed the propane tank installation to make sure you do not have a leak. 

Myth: Propane tanks spontaneously explode at residential properties on a regular basis. 

It is actually very rare for a propane tank to explode at all. Therefore, you really should not have any fears of the new tank after it is installed or worries that the tank is going to combust. All propane containers are built with safety features to prevent the accumulation of pressure within the tank. Most propane explosions have nothing to do with the tank; most propane explosions are related to leaks and unsafe practices. 

Myth: If you don't place the tank in the shade, it can overheat and blow up. 

Propane tanks are oftentimes installed in shady areas, but that is actually not a necessity. The professional will install the propane tank according to what would make the most logical placement and not according to shade or sunlight. The propane tanks are designed with reflective coatings to reflect the heat, but they are also filled only to certain levels to allow room for expansion during periods of high heat. Likewise, pressure release valves release any pressure that could put the tank at risk of exploding due to high temperatures. 

To learn more, contact a company that offers propane tank installation services.