Staying Safe in the Snow

March 31 2015,

Written by Steve Welch

Man shoveling a path through 6 feet of snow.

Winter is almost done (I know, when?) and I hope you’re all surviving the 2015 Blizzards we’re having here in the Northeast. I don’t know about the rest of you, but as far as I am concerned the snow can stop at any time. Here are a few tips we should communicate with our customers to make sure we keep everyone safe.

Don’t Run Out of Propane. They should call before there is an increased propane load due to power outage, or any situation where they’re using more than their average use of propane, so you can make timely deliveries. This is not the time to have the heaters conk out due to a lack of propane.
Mark Location of Underground Tanks. Make sure all of your underground tanks are clearly marked so drivers can find them and snowplows can stay clear of them.
Keep all vents clear of snow. A clogged vent can create an “out of heat” call, or worse a carbon monoxide issue that could cause illness or death. Be careful when snow blowing. There have been reports of snow being blown into intakes and exhausts blocking the flow of air and exhaust. The same goes for roof vented units. Make sure to check the vents after all snowstorms.
Be Cautious. Immediately call your gas company if you smell gas inside or outside.
Be Cautious Part 2. If they are using a portable generator make sure it is at least 10 ft. away from building to prevent exhaust fumes from entering the building.
Plan For the Worst Case Scenario. Educate your customers on the importance of Carbon Monoxide detectors.
Be Smart. Never use a heating appliance inside unless it is rated to be used in that application.
Beware of Ice on the Eaves of the House. A falling icicle can do some significant damage to regulators, piping and gas meters. If necessary, get someone to get them away from equipment and install a protective roof over this equipment.
Clear Snow Off the Tank. If the tanks themselves are not cleared off it acts as insulation and cuts down on the tanks vaporization capacity. Also, a path should be clear to the tank to make it easier to refill.

We need to educate everyone about propane safety. In fact, this should be our top priority no matter what season we are in. But for us in the Northeast, it is especially important during our winter months when people are trying to keep warm.