Propane Safety & Benefits

Get the most from this eco-friendly, efficient and versatile home fuel

Drive through Augusta, Gardiner, Hallowell, Monmouth and other communities in Central Maine, and you’ll surely see more home propane tanks than you used to. At WFC, we talk to many homeowners about the benefits of propane. It’s an ideal fuel for Maine, providing independence and reliable performance. We are always here to help you maintain a steady supply of propane and to make sure that your gas-fired systems are safe.

Why choose propane for your home?

There are some astonishing advantages to adding propane products to your home. Consider just a few of them:

• Propane furnaces deliver air heated to nearly 120°F.
• Propane heating equipment can achieve fuel efficiency ratings of up to 98.5%.
• Clean-burning propane requires less equipment maintenance.
• Predominantly American-made, propane is plentiful and affordable.
• Propane is a low-carbon, methane-free energy source with minimal particulate emissions.
• Propane fuels numerous indoor and outdoor appliances, offering exceptional versatility.

Propane tank safety tips

Propane has an exceptional safety record. This is largely due to a combination of strict regulations, high industry standards and dedication from companies like ours. Propane is a nontoxic fuel that, even in the event of a leak, won’t harm soil, water or plant and animal life.

A propane leak could pose an asphyxiation or explosion risk, though. So you need to know how to recognize one. Because propane has no natural odor, an odorant (smelling like rotten eggs or a skunk’s spray) is added to help people detect leaks. We also recommend that you install UL-tested gas leak detectors near your propane appliances. (Carbon monoxide detectors, while important for your home, won’t detect a gas leak.)

If you think there is a propane leak in your home, please follow these steps:

• Extinguish sources of ignition, like cigarettes or candles.
• Evacuate the house immediately without trying to find the leak’s source.
• Once you’re at a safe distance, call 911 and the WFC team.
• Do not use phones, light switches, appliances or thermostats as you leave; a spark could ignite the gas.
• If it’s safe to do so, turn off the propane supply valve on your tank.
• Allow emergency personnel and service technicians to check for leaks and perform repairs.
• Do not return to the site or turn the propane supply valve back on, even if the gas smell is gone.
• A trained technician must repair the leak, inspect gas appliances and relight pilots.
• Only return when emergency personnel or the service technician permits.

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has many videos covering vital propane safety issues. You can watch these videos below.

The Local Advantage

The WFC team is always close by and ready to handle your home heating fuel needs. With free automatic delivery, we’ll never let you run out.

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