The best time to start planning for winter is right now.
There are plenty of risks that come with living in Connecticut during the cold winter months. Your propane appliances and generators are here to make snow days a more comfortable experience but, without proper care that might not be the case. Protecting your home from winter storms is essential to ensuring the safety of your family and your property. Propane experts at Total Fuel Service recommend residents living in a propane home prepare for the potentially-high accumulation of snow this season by reviewing the following important safety measures.
• Make sure your propane tank, whether it is located above or below the ground, is marked properly by a flag, pole, or stake that is higher than the average snow-cover depth for your location. This will increase the odds of it being seen by someone such as a snowplow operator, reducing the chances for a potentially fatal accident
• Have an adequate supply of propane in your tank. During and after a winter storm, roads leading to your home or farm might not be accessible for delivery. It is recommended that you establish a regular delivery schedule with Total Fuel Service.
• Know how and where to shut off the outdoor propane supply and indoor propane appliances. For more information, contact TFS.
• Make sure that you and your family know what propane smells like. Propane has a strong, unpleasant smell like rotten eggs, a skunk’s spray, or a dead animal.
• Never store or place a propane cylinder indoors or in an enclosed area such as a basement, garage, shed, or tent.
• It is recommended that you consider installing a carbon monoxide (CO) detector listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) on every level of your home. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding installation, location, and maintenance.
• Propane gas detectors provide an additional measure of security. It is recommended that you consider installing one or more propane gas detectors listed by UL. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding installation, location, and maintenance.
• Have a list of instructions on how to turn off electricity, propane, and water. Review suggested preparations for natural disasters such as winter storms with your propane supplier as well as other utility suppliers. Advise them of any special needs you may have.
• Create an emergency preparedness plan and review it regularly with your family in order to keep them safe during a potential disaster.
If a winter storm is predicted, listen to your local authorities, or television and radio stations, for instructions on the appropriate course of action to take. Although it is recommended to always have an adequate supply propane in your tank, it is especially important during the winter months because in the event of a storm, roads leading to your home or farm might not be accessible for additional delivery.
Call our Total Fuel Service team for all of your home’s propane needs! GO PRO with Total Fuel Service today!
Source: propane.com