What Can’t be Seen, Can be Harmful: Check Out LP Gas Safety Tips from Grinnell Mutual

Grinnell, IA (PRWEB) July 17, 2013

With camping and grilling season in full swing, many people use liquefied petroleum (LP) gas to supply fuel to portable grills and RV units. When it comes to LP gas, what you can’t see can be harmful, even volatile, if a tank or regulator begins to leak, cautions Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company.

Learning a thing or two about the physical properties of LP gas before a leak occurs is worth the time – just ask Grinnell Mutual Claims Manager Mark Lageveen. A demonstration of these properties that he performed for his son’s sixth grade class 11 years ago prevented serious injury when one of his son’s classmates encountered a gas leak in a family members’ home.

“The young man stopped a family member just in time from walking into the basement with a lit cigarette. Because LP gas is heavier than air, it sank to the basement. This young man knew that a lit cigarette would ignite the gas and explode,” said Lageveen. “He used his knowledge about LP gas to prevent serious injury, if not death.”

(Click here to view the life-saving demonstration performed by Grinnell Mutual Director of Corporate Loss Control Larry Gallagher to learn more about the physical properties of LP gas.)

LP gas 101

LP gas, also referred to as LPG or propane, is commonly used to heat and cool homes in the rural Midwest. Large LP gas tanks are also found on farms, especially at confinement operations. Unlike natural gas, which is transported to a home by an underground pipeline from a utility company, LP gas is stored in a cylinder or tank on the premises.

LP gas is invisible to the human eye and naturally odorless. Manufacturers add an identifying odor to the gas so a leak can be detected. In contrast to natural gas vapor, which is lighter than air, LP gas vapor is heavier than air. It will seek the lowest level of the structure if a leak occurs within a building or near an exterior door or window opening. LP gas is also highly flammable. If an uncontrolled ignition source is present within that lowest level of the building, a fire and/or explosion is likely to occur.

What if there’s a gas leak at home?

If a homeowner suspects an LP gas leak, Grinnell Mutual recommends the following:

1. Evacuate all individuals from the home immediately. Do not turn on or off any light switches as this action could serve as a source of ignition if LP gas vapors are present.
2. Shut-off the LP gas at the tank outside the home.
3. Call the fire department from a neighbor’s home or from a remote location using a cell phone.
4. Relay your concerns and the actions you have taken and follow the advice provided by the fire department staff.

What if there’s a leak in a gas grill?

“If a leak is suspected near your gas grill, shut off the gas valve on the tank immediately and do not operate the grill until you can confirm that no leaks exist within the gas line or gas connections,” cautions Grinnell Mutual Director of Corporate Loss Control Larry Gallagher.

Leaks within the LP gas line or gas connections can be identified using a soapy water solution and an old paint brush or tooth brush. Follow these steps to check the line and connections:

1. With the cylinder valve shut and the burners in the off position, confirm that each connection is hand-tight.
2. Once the connections are secured, re-open the gas valve.
3. Check all bends within the gas line, pipe connections at the tank and the burners, and the additional sections of the gas line by applying the soapy water solution with the brush over each location. Bubbling at any point indicates a leak.
4. If the leak is near a connection, shut off the gas valve and attempt to tighten the loose connection. With the burners shut-off, open the valve again and re-check with soapy water. If the leak continues, consult your local gas supplier to determine further action.
5. If the leak occurs in the gas line, replace the gas line before further use. Check for potential leaks after the new line has been installed.
6. Store all LP gas cylinders outdoors and close gas valves on all cylinders connected to the grill when the appliance is not in use.
7. If the gas cylinder becomes empty during grilling, shut off the burners and allow the grill to cool. The appliance should be cool to the touch before installing a replacement cylinder and re-igniting the burners.

“Following appropriate safety procedures when storing or handling LP gas may save your life or the lives of others,” said Gallagher.

Contact your local LP gas supplier for additional safety information on storage and handling of LP gas.

<p>About Grinnell Mutual
Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, in business since 1909, provides reinsurance for farm mutual insurance companies and property and casualty insurance products through more than 1,600 independent agents in 12 Midwestern states. Grinnell Mutual is the largest primary reinsurer of farm mutual companies in North America.

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