Summer Propane Safety Tips

Written on: June 8, 2021

Don’t Let An Accident Ruin Your Summer Fun

Propane does so much to make your summer better.

Grilling up easy weeknight dinners or burgers and brats for a crowd is easy as pie with a propane BBQ grill. Propane firepits, deck and patio heaters, pool and spa heaters, outdoor fireplaces, and insect traps make your back yard a wonderful place to relax or entertain.

However, you need to know how to use propane safely. We’ve put together some key tips so you have peace of mind when using propane outdoor appliances this summer.

Propane Cylinder Safety

Make sure you have enough propane for your grill, firepit, and other outdoor propane appliances by getting full cylinders at one of our propane cylinder exchange locations.

Once you bring your cylinders home, you need to store them safely. Always store propane cylinders outdoors. NEVER store them indoors, or in a garage, carport, shed, or sunporch.

It is preferable that you store cylinders on a hard surface, like concrete or stone. Do not store them on bare ground, as that can lead to the cylinder rusting. Instead, put them off the ground on a wood pallet.

Grill Safely

These grilling safety best practices help prevent your cooking from ending with a trip to the emergency room.

• Clean your propane grill, not just the grates, regularly. One in five grill fires is caused by leftover grease.
• Keep the grill lid open until you are sure the grill is fully lit.
• If you have a spare propane cylinder, do not store it indoors, or under or near the grill.
• NEVER use your propane BBQ grill indoors or in an enclosed or covered area like a garage or carport. Dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, a potentially lethal odorless and colorless gas, can build up.
• The grill needs to be on a flat, level surface to reduce the chance of it tipping.
• The grill must have at least five feet clearance from the house, outdoor furniture, trees, bushes, and anything else.
• Keep children and pets away from the grill.
• NEVER leave a lit grill unattended. Make sure you have everything you need on hand like tongs, mitts, brushes, sauces, food, and platters before you start the grill.
• Don’t use your grill if the igniter is broken. Look into buying a grill with an automatic igniter.

Have questions about propane safety? Get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help.