Propane Safety Tips & Information

Know how to protect your family and your home

SWVA Gas Service has deep roots in our communities here in southwestern Virginia. We’ve been taking care of your fuel needs for almost 50 years. You’re more than our customers—you’re our neighbors.

That’s why we’re dedicated to providing safe propane delivery and propane tank and equipment installation.

What do I do if I smell gas?

Part of that dedication to your safety is making sure that you know what to do to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property if you ever smell gas in your home, workplace, camper, RV or anywhere around gas equipment. First, you have to know the smell of gas, which is like rotten eggs. You should make sure everyone in your home knows what it smells like, as well.

These steps need to be taken without delay to protect lives:

Get everyone out of the house, building, vehicle or area IMMEDIATELY.
Extinguish any source of ignition, like cigarettes or an open flame.
On your way out, do not use thermostats, appliances, electric switches or telephones until you’re safely away.
If you can safely access it, apply the gas shutoff valve on the propane tank or cylinder.
When you are safely away from the area, use your mobile phone or a neighbor’s phone to call your propane provider or emergency services.
Do not try to go back or turn on the propane supply valve, even if you do not smell gas anymore. Emergency personnel or qualified propane technicians need time to check for escaped gas, so stay away until they say it’s OK to come back.
A trained, professional propane service technician should repair the propane gas leak. The technician and emergency personnel must ensure that the problem has been safely resolved before anyone is allowed to return.
All gas appliances must be carefully inspected, and all of the gas appliance pilots should be relit by the propane service technician.

Contact us with any questions about propane safety. We’re glad to help!

Want more propane safety tips? The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has created the informative videos below to tell you all about propane safety!