--- title: Propane Safety & Leak Questions | American River Gas url: https://americanrivergas.com/faq/safety-and-leaks/ business: American River Gas Co., Inc. phone: (530) 888-7438 address: 10290 Ophir Rd, Newcastle, CA 95658 hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM (closed noon-1:00 PM) updated: 2026-10-28 --- Questions: Safety & leaks # Propane safety and leak questions If you smell gas, leave the building first, then call 911 and us at (530) 888-7438 from outside, and never turn the gas back on yourself. Day to day, keep cylinders and outdoor appliances out of the house and garage, put carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas, and have a technician check the system after any shut-off, repair or new appliance. [Call (530) 888-7438](tel:+15308887438)[Request delivery](https://americanrivergas.com/request-a-delivery/) Questions by topic [Tanks & gauges](https://americanrivergas.com/faq/tanks-and-gauges/)[Delivery & ordering](https://americanrivergas.com/faq/delivery-and-ordering/)[Billing & Budget Plan](https://americanrivergas.com/faq/billing-and-budget-plan/)[Safety & leaks](https://americanrivergas.com/faq/safety-and-leaks/)[Appliances](https://americanrivergas.com/faq/appliances/)[Building & moving](https://americanrivergas.com/faq/building-and-moving/)[Cylinders & RVs](https://americanrivergas.com/faq/cylinders-and-rvs/) ### Which way do I turn the valve to shut off my propane tank? Turn it to the right, clockwise, the same direction you tighten a jar lid. Do it only if it is safe and the smell is not coming from the tank itself. Once the tank is closed, a technician has to check the system before gas flows again, so call us instead of reopening it. ### Should I put a propane gas detector in my house? It adds a useful layer of protection. The Propane Education & Research Council suggests UL-listed propane gas detectors alongside carbon monoxide detectors, placed and maintained the way the maker's instructions say. Respond to a detector alarm exactly as you would to a gas smell. ### What should I do if my carbon monoxide alarm goes off? Get everyone out into fresh air and call 911 from outside. Stay out, and leave the propane appliances off until they have been checked. For the alarms themselves, the CDC recommends battery-operated or battery back-up CO detectors near every sleeping area, with batteries checked twice a year and the units replaced every five years. ### What are the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning? According to the CDC, the most common symptoms are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. Because they can feel like the flu, a working CO alarm matters. If someone has these symptoms while fuel-burning appliances are running, get them into fresh air, call 911, and have the appliances looked at before anyone uses them again. ### Can I bring my grill or camp stove inside during a power outage? No. Outdoor propane appliances such as grills and camp stoves must never run indoors or in an enclosed space, because the carbon monoxide they produce can kill. Use only appliances designed and approved for indoor use, and never try to heat the house with a cooking range. ### Is it OK to keep a spare grill cylinder in the garage? No. Propane safety guidance says a cylinder should never be stored, placed or used indoors or in an enclosed area, and a garage, basement, shed or tent all count. Keep spares outdoors, standing upright, away from heat sources. ### Is my propane tank safe sitting in the summer sun? Yes, home tanks are built to sit outdoors, and the space left at the top of each fill gives the propane room to expand. Color matters, though: dark paint lets the tank soak up heat, which can open the relief valve and release gas, so tanks should stay a light, heat-reflective color. If you hear hissing or smell gas near the tank, move away from it and call 911 and us from a safe distance. ### Does every propane appliance need its own shut-off valve? Yes. A shut-off valve is required within six feet of each gas appliance, so one appliance can be closed off without shutting down the whole house. Those valves are inspected as part of every system check. ### What is a sediment trap, and does my dryer need one? A sediment trap is a short capped section of pipe at the appliance connection that catches dirt and debris before it reaches the controls. Ranges, clothes dryers, decorative vented appliances and outdoor grills are not required to have one. The technician looks at sediment traps during a system check and will tell you if one is missing where it is needed. ### Can my handyman hook up my new propane range? Adding a gas appliance is one of the situations that requires a leak test, so a qualified technician has to check the system before the range goes into use. Call the office to schedule it. If the range was built for natural gas, it must also be converted for propane first. ### Is it OK to tie my dog to the propane tank? No. Keep animals away from the tank and never use it as a tie-out point. The valves, regulator and fittings on a tank need to stay undisturbed. ### Can liquid propane burn my skin? Yes. Propane is kept as a liquid under pressure, and liquid on the skin can cause a severe freeze burn or frostbite. Leave valves and fittings to trained technicians. ### What should I check around my propane tank after a windstorm or heavy snow? Once it is safe to go outside, look for downed power lines, damaged gas lines and any damage to the tank. If you find a problem, call us or the utility right away and do not attempt a repair. Brush snow off the tank, vents and flues with a broom rather than a shovel. ### My propane water heater sat in water after a flood or leak. Can I still use it? Not yet. Do not run it or turn its gas back on until a qualified technician has inspected it. Water can damage controls and electrical parts and create a fire hazard, so any propane appliance that has been under water needs a full check first. Keep reading ## Related pages - [Ran out of propane? Why a leak check is required before relighting](https://americanrivergas.com/guides/ran-out-of-propane-leak-check/) - [Annual propane system inspection: what we check](https://americanrivergas.com/guides/annual-propane-system-inspection/) - [Tank Maintenance & Leak Checks](https://americanrivergas.com/services/tank-maintenance-leak-checks/) - [Converting appliances from natural gas to propane](https://americanrivergas.com/guides/converting-appliances-to-propane/) - [Propane safety and wildfire: defensible space around your tank](https://americanrivergas.com/guides/propane-tank-wildfire-defensible-space/) Sources: [Propane Education & Research Council: Propane safety and power outages (PDF)](https://propane.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/propane_safety_power_outages.pdf) · [Propane Education & Research Council: Propane safety and winter storms (PDF)](https://cloudinary.propane.com/images/v1637260326/website-media/21PERC0565_9014-NL-21_Weather-Safety-Top-10_Winter-Storms_LR/21PERC0565_9014-NL-21_Weather-Safety-Top-10_Winter-Storms_LR.pdf) · [CDC: Carbon monoxide poisoning basics](https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/about/index.html) · [NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code](https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-54-standard-development/54)