With summer camping on the agenda and travel planning underway, one important item on the list is purchasing a propane tank, a mobile or portable propane bottle, often nicknamed the ‘barbecue tank’, since it is used mainly as a fuel source for gas portable camping propane grills.
But also on the list should be a review of safety procedures when purchasing or using propane tanks so that you avoid any nasty accidents that could turn your wonderful holiday into a camp of horror.
One of the first things to check for should be for any signs of leakage. Are there any cracks, faulty valves or signs of wear and tear? Are they in good working order? Make sure any burners or vents are clear and free from any rust or debris.
Besides this any further maintenance that might be needed should only be performed by someone qualified to do the job. It is recommended that these appliances be regularly serviced so if you are buying a used propane tank check when it was last serviced.
Once purchased, whilst you are transporting the tanks, make sure they are standing upright and with plenty of free flowing air. Remember that when you do come to use them, to make sure they are in an area that is well ventilated and kept away from other sources of heat and clear of any flammable and combustible materials.
The tanks should also be placed upright, above the soil and on level ground and used only for the purpose for which they are designed.
Because they are portable and easily refilled, propane cylinders are sometimes used in ways it was not intended for them to be used. Although it may look harmless, the improper use of a propane tank can turn out to be very risky. So never move a propane bottle that is in use otherwise there is a risk of liquid propane escaping through the service valve resulting in an unexpected flare up flames.
Propane gas cylinders are for cooking purposes so using them as a heating device is not recommended and they should never be used in any enclosed space so don’t be tempted to use them inside of the tent or trailer. Propane is a form of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that can be used as a fuel where there is no access to gas mains and as such is a fire and gas poisoning hazard.
You might think it is ok if a window is open but actually it is not, because there won’t be sufficient air to keep them well ventilated, thus increasing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition because propane is heavier than air, if there is a leak in the propane fuel system, the gas will tend to sink into any enclosed area and this will increase the risk of sparking an explosion or fire. It might even be worth making sure you have a fire extinguisher handy in case of emergency
The dangers posed are death from fire and burning or death caused by being overwhelmed by carbon monoxide fumes or death by violent explosion. Propane has no smell but an odorant called ethanethiol is added for safety reasons so that people can smell it if there is a leak.
When storing propane tanks or cylinders it is best to do it outdoors after first making sure that the cap on the bottle is properly secured and that they are tightly plugged or sealed. Also be careful not to store next to tires, mattresses or any trash as this constitutes a serious fire hazard
With all of that in mind, having taken the proper care and precautions you can go on your holiday with peace of mind and enjoy your barbeques!
The following fuel sources are listed in descending order of their GHG emissions – charcoal briquettes, all natural wood charcoal, propane gas, electric grill, and solar cooker. Some of these facts you may have heard of before and some will be new to you
Propane Gas, Some Facts
Propane Gas is a naturally occurring gas at atmospheric pressure, and has many versatile uses and serves a lot of purposes. Propane Gas is used for heating purposes, cooking, fuel for vehicles, making petrochemicals, in fueling gas
Portable Campfire is Quite Useful
We were shopping for new camping gear online yesterday and ran across this campfire ring that uses propane. Since we like to camp in the mountains this is quite useful.
Buying a Outdoor Propane Fire Pit
The propane powered outdoor fire pit is ideal for a backyard campfire, grill, cooking or all of them. Many people prefer a propane fire pit. There is no smoke, no messy ash and it can be a portable one.
going green is always the best thing to do. it helps the environment a lot.`;:
everything should be green these days, let us help mother earth::-
going green is probably a wise choice because we need to protect our environment`”*
looking to purchase used or reconditioned propane cylinders.
are these available?
thanks
we should always Go Green to help the environment, always use products that are earth friendly-’`
i still prefer gas grills over electric grills because the smoke somehow improves the flavor of the meat-”‘
You would need to go to your nearest propane gas supplier who will have a range of used and new tanks to sell, or you could check the local newspaper ads.
it is always a good idea to go green because we always want to help the environment ,-~