Understanding the Dangers
Propane is stored as a liquid inside your tank. This natural form of propane is both colorless and odorless. For safety reasons, a chemical odorant is added so that, in the event of a leak, you can detect the escaping gas by its strong, distinct smell. Become familiar with it's odor.
Under normal operation with the tank upright and secure, never more than 80% full, the valve of the regulator is surrounded by a vaporized form of the liquid propane. When you open the valve, this vapor leaves the tank through the valve and enters the appliance in use. In this normal operative state, when treated properly, propane is quite a safe fuel.
Now Consider...
If the tank should be turned sideways, this liquid propane flows over the regulator, which can freeze your regulator and otherwise allow liquid propane to leave the tank. Because the propane is in a compressed state, the erupting liquid can be small or quite large. But that's just the tip of the iceburg. Once the liquid propane is expelled into the air, inside your bbq, home, or vehicle, it will expand. Liquid propane expands to over 220% of the space it occupied previously. So even a few drops of liquid can easily fill a large space.
Odor Fade
Under certain circumstances, propane gas may lose the distinctive odor that was added. This is sometimes called “odor fade,” and it can occur both in new steel containers when first placed into service and in used steel containers left open to the atmosphere for a long time. In addition, under certain circumstances not everyone can smell the odorant in propane. Physical conditions such as competing odors, commons colds and allergies, smoking, etc. may lessen a person's ability to smell. So please don't just assume that you can always know if propane is leaking.
The Fix
The Tanknanny® product keeps your propane upright at all times. Assuming it has been properly filled, liquid propane will not flow around the regulator, thus preventing liquid from escaping your tank. It also prevents damage to your valves and regulators by preventing the liquid from freezing the valve open or damaging your regulator.
In addition, the Tanknanny® keeps the propane tank from moving or becoming dislodged in a motor vehicle emergency or sudden stopping situation. Objects like groceries, blankets, or milk crates simply will not help in a situation like this.
News Stories
09/16/09 Propane tanks in basement fuel explosive Dahlonega, GA, house fire
09/15/09 Propane suspected in Lathrop, MO, home explosion and fire
09/14/09 Lytle, TX, man burned by exploding propane tank (video)
09/12/09 Propane grill suspected in Las Vegas house fire
09/10/09 Ft. Worth, TX, man burned by exploding hot dog stand propane tank
09/05/09 Propane explosion injures Plainview, CA, woman
09/04/09 Gilbert, NV, man burned by exploding propane tank (video)
09/02/09 Propane fire disrupts Boston University welcoming
09/02/09 Two women in Chillicothe, OH, injured when propane in RV explodes (video)
09/02/09 Propane grill ignites Madison, OH, house fire
08/27/09 Jacksonville, FL, woman dies following propane explosion
08/26/09 Propane blast destroys Billett, IL, home
08/25/09 Propane explosion injures two at Forrest City, AR, recycling plant (video)
08/25/09 One killed, one burned in Smith County, TX, propane explosion
08/21/09 Propane leak results in explosion and fire in San Diego, CA (video)
08/18/09 Lake Palo Pinto, TX, house trailer explodes
08/17/09 Plano, TX, woman critically burned in propane explosion
08/15/09 Explosion and fire destroys Poland, OH, home
08/14/09 Bay Shore, NY, couple badly burned by home propane explosion (video)
08/14/09 Portland, OR, camper burned when propane inside tent explodes
08/12/09 Propane truck explodes in Arkansas City, KS
08/10/09 Propane leak suspected in Marcellus, NY, home propane explosion and fire
08/10/09 Four injured by propane explosion at Clint, TX, festival
08/10/09 Explosion blows woman through window, destroys Rocky Mount, NC, home
08/07/09 North Newton, KS, man critically burned in home explosion (video)
08/07/09 Outdoor propane stove fire destroys Fresno, CA, mobile home
08/06/09 Propane tank on Chicago rooftop explodes
08/06/09 Propane may have been involved in Longview, TX, home explosion (video)
08/06/09 Propane leak destroys lake Medina Shores, TX, home
08/06/09 Leaking propane ignites house fire in Westport, CT
08/06/09 New Castle, PA, woman burned when propane line ruptures
08/03/09 Propane grill explosion nearly torches home in Golden Gate Estates, FL(video)
08/02/09 One injured in propane tank explosion in Cle Elum, WA, senior center (video)
08/01/09 Boat owner injured in Groton, CT, explosion (video)
07/31/09 Man burned in supected propane explosion in Chicago strip mall (video)
07/30/09 Propane tank tips, sparks fire at Yamhill County, OR, fair & rodeo (video)
07/30/09 Two Alberta, Canada, seniors injured in RV explosion
07/29/09 Explosion and fire destroy Oklahoma City, OK, home
07/27/09 Propane tank explodes at Eau Claire, WI, apartment (video)
07/27/09 Propane suspected in Cocoran, MN, home explosion (video)
07/24/09 Coeur D’Alene man burned when propane tank in car explodes
07/24/09 Leaking propane explodes on Bruce, SD, hog farm
07/23/09 Explosion and fire destroy Jackson Township, PA, duplex (video)
07/22/09 Father and son injured in Evergreen, WA, motor home explosion (video)
07/22/09 Home damaged by exploding propane tank in Middle Township, NJ
07/22/09 Cheshire, OR, couple critically burned in mobile home fire
07/21/09 Propane tank suspected in McCloud, CA, moving van explosion
07/21/09 Propane explosion knocks McCloud, CA, home off foundation
07/21/09 Warwick, RI, man burned refilling propane tank
07/18/09 Propane leak causes fire in McAllen, TX
07/13/09 House explosion and fire kills two in Dickson City, PA (video)
07/13/09 Passaic, NJ, forklift operator injured in propane fire
07/13/09 Fire destroys home in Pittsfield, ME
07/11/09 Propane tank suspected in Rostraver, PA, fire
07/08/09 Melted propane grill hose creates fireball in North Platte, NE
07/07/09 Propane tank explosion destroys Scottsdale, AZ, home
07/07/09 Leaking propane line leads to explosion in luxury Naples, FL, condo
07/07/09 Two seriously burned in Nekimi, Wi, camper fire
07/06/09 Deputy saves family in Augusta, GA, house fire (video)
07/06/09 Burton, SC, man burned in propane tank explosion
07/05/09 Propane grill explosion in Knoxville, TN, damages garage and destroys car
07/02/09 Propane leak blames in fatal Box Elder, SD, fire
07/01/09 Propane tank explosion destroys three campers in Index, WA
07/01/09 Explosion and fire destroy home in Round Mountain, CA
06/30/09 Propane tank explodes in Groton, SD, barn fire
06/29/09 Explosion at Cleveland, TN, propane dealership (video)
06/24/09 Two Calgary, Alberta, men injured in propane explosion
06/23/09 Homeowner and firefighter injured in Maple Valley, WA, home fire (video)
06/19/09 Adult couple and teenager killed in Corpus Christi, TX, home explosion
06/16/09 Propane explosion injures Marietta, OH, man (video)
06/16/09 Sheraden, PA, home gutted by explosion and fire
06/15/09 Camper explosion injures man in Omaha, NE
06/15/09 Propane fire burns store, apartment building in Louisville, KY
06/14/09 Propane, candle likely cause of home fire in Beaver, PA
06/13/09 Propane barbecue grill explodes in Niagara Falls, NY
06/12/09 Feds investigating Garner, NC, factory explosion
06/11/09 18-year-old Waconia, MN, store employee killed by propane explosion
06/11/09 Mesa, AZ, man dies of burns from leaking propane barbecue (video)
06/10/09 Fiery explosion in Piney, FL, home sends four to burn units
06/09/09 Amarillo, TX, man burned by barbecue grill explosion
06/09/09 Propane explosion, fire destroy vacant Hyde, MI, home
06/07/09 Propane fire kills 25,000 turkeys in Mankato, MN (video)
06/03/09 Propane tank may have caused Bellevue, WA, house fire
06/03/09 Chicago restaurant cited for propane explosion that injured 4
06/02/09 Propane blast injures man in Torrey, UT (video)
06/02/09 Explosion heard before Mulberry, IN, house fire
06/01/09 Chico, CA, home destroyed by propane explosion (video)
05/31/09 Propane explosion burns house, damages another in Corpus Christi, TX (video)
05/31/09 Mt. Vernon, IL, couple survives home explosion (video)
05/28/09 Exploding propane tank ignites Magnolia, WA, house fire
05/25/09 Two Lawrence, MA, homes rocked by propane explosion
05/24/09 Warwick, RI, man killed in propane explosion
05/23/09 Propane explosion in San Jacinto, CA, damages home
05/21/09 Washington, DC, man critically injured in propane explosion (video)
05/20/09 Propane leak suspected in Francis Creek, WI, home explosion
05/19/09 Ferrum, VA, man dies of burns after trailer explodes
05/19/09 Propane explosion causes home explosion in Ballville, OH
05/19/09 Ten people escape explosion and fire in Hudson, NH, duplex
05/18/09 Propane leak blamed for Bridgton, ME, home explosion
05/18/09 Propane leak forces evacuation of Merrimack, NH, motel guests
05/15/09 Mt. Airy, MD, propane explosion flattens home, damaged five others (video)
05/15/05 Fire destroys home in La Habra Heights, CA
05/15/09 Orlando, FL, home explodes; propane tank in garage suspected
05/14/09 Propane tank explodes in Port Huron, MI, home fire
05/14/09 Fire destroys Visalia, CA, duplex, displacing three families
05/11/09 Explosion damages home in Readlyn, IA
05/07/09 Three buildings destroyed, hundreds of pets killed Metairie, LA (video)
05/06/09 One injured when propane tank explodes in Nags Head, NC
05/06/09 Propane tank causes barn explosion in Cherry Valley, IL
05/05/09 Barbecue grill damages home at Pearl Harbor, HI, military base
05/04/09 Urbana, OH, house explosion injures two (video)
04/30/09 Etowah, TN, woman suffers serious burns in camper fire
04/28/09 Propane explosion sends Denver, CO, man to hospital
04/28/09 Propane tank in garage leads to explosion in Hermon, ME (video)
04/26/09 Two homes destroyed, two damaged in Bethlehem, PA, explosion and fire (video)
04/25/09 Essex, UK, man walks away after van blows up with him inside
04/21/09 Explosion, fire destroy cabin near Brighton, UT
04/21/09 Propane, static electricity may have led to Fremont, CA, home explosion
04/14/09 Woodbury, VT, explosion and fire ruled accidental
04/14/09 Harvey, LA, woman dies from fire after propane tank explosion
04/10/09 Investigators talk to burn victims after Harrison, OH, home explosion (video)
04/10/09 Larks Lake, MI, home explodes (video)
04/09/09 Car explosion in Vancouver, BC, caused by propane tank
04/09/09 Explosion destroys several Woodbury, VT, buildings
04/08/09 Propane-fueled Disneyland bus explodes
04/06/09 Sayersville, NJ, camper fire causes propane tank explosion
04/02/09 Chattaroy, WV, explosion destroys two homes
04/01/09 Ballinger, TX, propane explosion under investigation
03/31/09 Lincoln County, KY, man escapes exploding building (video)
03/24/09 Horsham, PA, blaze leaves fix families homeless
03/23/09 Explosion destroys Inver Grove Heights, MN, building (video)
03/18/09 Fire in Mountain Home, ID, garage/shop does $300,000 in damage
03/16/09 House explodes in Avery County, NC
03/14/09 Fire destroys Lucerne, CA, home (video)
03/12/09 Propane explosion and fire at SEC tourney site in Tampa, FL
03/12/09 One million gallons of under-odorized propane sold in five states recalled
03/09/09 Martha Stewart’s dog among 17 animals killed in kennel explosion
03/05/09 Elk River, MN, man in critical condition after propane explosion (video)
03/01/09 Casualties averted in explosion and fire at Denver, CO, apartments (video)
02/27/09 Against odds, Minneapolis, MN, man survives home explosion (video)
02/24/09 Propane cannister confirmed as cause of Dunedin, FL, home explosion
02/24/09 Worker critically injured in Stinson Beach, CA, propane explosion
02/24/09 Victim of Agawam, MA, mobile home blaze happy to be alive
02/23/09 Proctorville, OH, man burned in camper fire and explosion
02/21/09 One dead in Norton, MA, fire
02/21/09 Ann Arbor, MI, teenager dies in home explosion and fire
02/20/09 Propane likely cause of fatal Rapid City, SD, fire
02/19/09 89-year-old woman and dog rescued from East Hampton, NY, fire
02/19/09 Propane gas leak causes Chestertown, MD, home explosion
02/18/09 Woman badly burned in Palm Beach, FL, home fire (video)
02/17/09 House explosion in Cool Spring, PA (video)
02/13/09 One critically injured and home shifted on foundation in Bevier, MO, explosion
02/10/09 Leaking propane hose results in fire at Marquette University (video)
02/09/09 Cameron, TX, cabin explosion ruled an accident
01/29/09 Propane heater causes house fire in Portageville, MO
01/22/09 Propane leak leads to trailer fire in Thompson, OH
01/22/09 Two Colorado Springs, CO, homes damaged by fire, one person seriously injured
01/19/09 Employee injured by propane explosion in maize, KS
01/15/09 Propane explosion injures Bismark, ND, employee
01/14/09 Five presumed dead in British Columbia house fire and explosion
01/10/09 Camping trailer explodes in Miner, MO
01/02/09 Three die in Victoria, MO, New Year’s fire
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