Mark Johnson Custom Homes Blog

In a previous blog post, New Hanover County home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes addressed propane safety and the steps one should take when you can smell gas.  But how can you be sure you are smelling gas?

Some people may have difficulty smelling propane sue to their age (older people may have a less sensitive sense of smell); a medical condition; or the effects of medication, alcohol, tobacco, or drugs. Propane smells like rotten eggs, a skunk’s spray, or a dead animal.

But on rare occasions, propane can lose its odor. Several things can cause this including:

• The presence of air, water, or rust in a propane tank or cylinder
• The passage of leaking propane through the soil

But since there is a possibility of odor loss or problems with your sense of smell, you should respond immediately to even a faint odor of gas.

Propane gas detectors are extremely useful in the event that you may not smell a propane leak. Propane gas detectors sound an alarm if they sense propane in the air. You should consider the purchase of one or more detectors for your home.

Guidelines regarding propane gas detectors:

• Buy only units that are listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding installation and maintenance
• Never ignore the smell of propane, even if no detector is sounding an alarm