Propane Safety Best Practices in Emmaus, Macungie and other Lehigh Valley Towns

Know how to keep your home and loved ones safe

At Harned Durham, you’re not just customers — you’re valued members of our community, some of you for decades. We genuinely care about your well-being and are committed to providing safe and reliable propane delivery and service for your home.

Our unwavering commitment to your safety is supported by stringent government regulations and the high safety standards of the propane industry. This dedication has led to an impressive safety record in propane service.

With your safety in mind, we’ve compiled essential tips for using propane in your home. If you have any questions about propane safety or you need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help and to ensure that your experience with us is nothing short of exceptional.

I smell gas: What do I do?

Although propane gas is considered one of the safer energy sources available today, it’s important to know how to protect yourself if you detect the smell of propane.

The first thing to understand is the scent of propane gas. In its natural form, propane is odorless. However, an odorant, typically ethyl mercaptan, is added during processing to make gas leaks easy to detect. This odorant is commonly described as having a smell similar to that of a skunk’s spray or rotten eggs.

Now that you’re familiar with the scent of propane, here’s how to respond if you detect that odor in your home:

• Extinguish all sources of ignition, including cigarettes and candles.
• Evacuate everyone from the house immediately.
• Once you are safely away, call 911 and Harned Durham.
• Refrain from using light switches, thermostats, telephones or appliances until you are at a safe distance from the home.
• If safely accessible, close the gas shutoff valve on the propane tank or cylinder. It’s crucial that all adults in your household know how to do this. If you have questions, please reach out to us for assistance.
• Allow emergency personnel and certified propane service technicians sufficient time to check for any gas leaks and conduct necessary repairs.
• Regardless of whether the gas odor has dissipated, stay away from the area where it was detected, and DO NOT attempt to turn on the propane supply valve.
• Let the Harned Durham technician handle the leak repair, thoroughly inspect all gas appliances and relight any pilot lights.
• Do not return to the premises until you receive the all-clear from emergency personnel or the service technician.

Harned Durham prioritizes your safety by ensuring that you have the knowledge essential for the safe use and handling of propane. We invite you to explore the informative propane safety videos from the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) below.