Safety

Ensuring Your Overall Safety While Using Propane

Safety

You should contact McAdams Propane Company when you:

Smell propane
Suspect you have a leak in your system
Need a propane appliance connected or disconnected
Move or if there will be a change in tenant status
Purchase a new or replace an existing propane appliance
Have plans for an outdoor project that requires digging
Experience a life change such as a new baby or a child moving away

The Professional Emergency Resource Service (PERS)

The PERS response center is staffed 24-hours a day to help facilitate emergency response activities in the event of a hazardous materials incident.

Please call (800) 633-8253 ONLY in the case of MAJOR accidents, spills, or leaks. *Please do not call this number if you are out of propane.

Cylinder Safety

Transporting Small Cylinders:

Always transport and store a cylinder in a secure and upright position so it will not fall, shift, or roll.
Always close the cylinder valve and, if required, seal with a plug, even if the cylinder is empty. Ask if a plug is needed.
Never keep a filled cylinder inside a hot vehicle or transport inside a closed truck.
Always place the cylinder in a well-ventilated area of the vehicle.
Always proceed directly to your destination and immediately remove the cylinder from your vehicle.
There is a limit placed by law on the number of cylinders that can be transported in closed-bodied vehicles such as passenger cars and vans. Ask us for more information on state and local codes in place to help keep you safe.

Propane Facts

Most people know propane as the fuel in a white container attached to a barbecue grill. But propane has long proven its versatility for heating homes, heating water, cooking, drying clothes, fueling fireplaces, and as an alternative fuel for vehicles. Propane is also used to make petrochemicals which are the building blocks for plastics, alcohol fibers, and cosmetics.

Propane naturally occurs as a gas at atmospheric pressure but can be liquefied if subjected to moderately increased pressure. It is stored and transported in its compressed liquid form, but by opening a valve to release propane from a pressurized storage container, it is vaporized into a gas for use. Propane is a by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining

FAQs

How do I read my gauge on my tank?

What do I need to do to maintain my tank?

How should I choose a reliable heating professional?

Check their reputation. Ask your friends, family, and neighbors about their propane suppliers.
Check their experience. How long have they been in business? How many customers do they deliver to each year? Will they be around to continue providing me with service?
What about their employees? Are they well-trained? Are the service technicians up to date on the latest installation and service procedures? Do the employees regularly attend seminars and training schools? Are they certified through the Gas Association Program? Ask about the specific training their employees have gone through.
Can they perform Gas Checks? GASCheck™ is a licensed voluntary program to inspect the residential propane system (lines, furnace, appliances, etc.) to ensure safety.

Is propane an environmentally safe energy?

Propane is an approved alternative fuel in both the Clean Air Act of 1990 and the National Energy Policy Act of 1992. It is nontoxic and insoluble in water. Because it is used as a gas, it does not spill, pool, or leave a residue. It's a safe fuel to store underground, as it will not contaminate groundwater, even in the unlikely event of a leak.

And its carbon footprint, a measure of its impact on the environment, is much less than other fuels. A gallon of propane burned produces about half the carbon dioxide (CO2) as a gallon of fuel oil. Compared to Btu of fuel, propane releases less CO2 than ethanol, gasoline, biodiesel, kerosene, or coal.

In traditional tank water heating, electric heaters produce 150 times the greenhouse gas emissions of a propane heater. A tankless propane water heater can even further reduce emissions.

Source: Propane Education and Research Council, Climate Crisis

What are some benefits of propane?

Using propane benefits more than just your pocketbook. You're probably aware of the fact that propane is a less expensive alternative to electricity. But do you know the other benefits of this exceptional energy? Here's a sample of some of the ways propane can make your life better.

Warm, Fuzzy Feeling

The heat generated by propane makes you feel good. A typical propane-powered heating system warms air to about 140 degrees. Compare this to a typical electric system, which only warms the air to 96-98 degrees, and you'll understand why electric heat feels like a cold draft on your skin.

Better Efficiency

Propane gas stoves and fireplaces also heat more evenly and more efficiently than wood-burning ones. They can also heat a larger area, meaning less reliance on primary home heating systems and significant cost savings. Wood-burning fireplaces can lose up to 90 percent of their heat through the chimney. Fireplace heat also tends to fade just a few feet from the hearth.

Cleaner Burning

A Colorado Clean Air Campaign study showed gas logs will burn 40 times longer than wood-burning fireplaces and still not produce the same emissions. The difference is so significant that in some states the use of wood-burning fireplaces is prohibited on days when air quality is poor.

Lower Cost

Propane gas fireplaces can produce twice as much heat as wood-burning ones at about a third of the cost. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that a gas fireplace costs 30 percent to 60 percent less per hour to operate than a wood-burning fireplace.

Turning to a more efficient propane furnace, water heater, clothes dryer, range, or other propane-powered appliances will save you money, help the environment, and keep you warm.

At what temperature should I keep my propane water heater?