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Propane Tank Safety Tips With Snowfall

Written on: February 1, 2021

Play It Safe This Winter

propane tank winter care

Snow can be a pretty thing when you’re looking out the window.

But it also creates a lot of chores. We hate adding to them, but there are some things you need to do to keep your home and family safe, and your supply of propane secure.

Keep A Clear Path To Your Tank

If Pitmon Oil & Gas delivery drivers cannot safely get down your driveway and to your propane tank, we are likely not able to delivery your propane.

That’s why making sure we can get to your home is essential. When you shovel, snowblow, or de-ice your driveway, make sure that it is cleared wide enough so our trucks can get through. That’s a width of at least 10 feet.

You also must keep a path to your propane tank safe and clear. Mark the location of the propane tank with a colored flag on a pole that is visible above any snow drifts that pile up. This is especially important it you have an underground propane tank. Also, clear snow around your fill pipe.

Clear Snow Off The Tank

That blanket of snow on your propane tank is not keeping it warm. In fact, it’s just the opposite! The snow on your propane tank prevents sunlight from adding some much-needed warmth to your tank and the propane inside it. That cold can shrink the propane in your tank and reduce the pressure, impeding it from reaching your propane appliances.

When you clear snow off your tank, use a broom and NOT a shovel. Shovels’ edges can damage the tank and its parts.

Check Your Tank Gauge Levels

Propane shrinks in very cold weather. If you let your propane tank fall below 30%, you run the risk of there not being enough pressure to get the propane to your appliances. That means your furnace, water heater, and other propane appliances could be out of commission.

The best way to avoid this possibility is enrolling in Automatic Delivery! We use your propane usage history, current weather conditions, and a sophisticated computer system to accurately predict when you’ll need a propane delivery and get it to you before you run low.

Keep Your Vents Clear

If vents are blocked by snow, ice, or remaining fallen leaves, your heating system won’t work effectively. It also increases the risk of carbon monoxide buildup in your home. Remove any obstructions and clear a wide space around the vents so any snowfall or ice buildup from the storm will be easier to clear afterwards.

Want propane delivery you can trust? Become a Pitmon customer today. And ask about Automatic Delivery!