At CHS, safety comes first. We offer industry-leading programs and exceed industry safety standards to make sure our customers and employees stay safe. When properly used, propane is a safe, economical, clean-burning and versatile fuel. You should understand how your delivery system and appliances work as well as what to do in case of an emergency. We’ve gathered a set of guidelines, tips, and best practices to empower you with the knowledge needed to utilize propane confidently and securely.
If this is an emergency, dial 911. For after hours service outages, please call 406-751-0155.
In its natural state, propane is an odorless and colorless gas that is widely used to fuel appliances for heating, cooking and other uses. While propane is used as a gas for fueling appliances, it is transported and stored as a liquid under high pressure in specially designed containers referred to either as tanks or cylinders. When liquid propane changes into a gas vapor, it expands in volume by about 270 times, meaning that propane is very economical to store and transport as a liquid rather than as a gas vapor. However, this characteristic also means that even a small leak of liquid propane can result in a much larger quantity of propane vapor, which can be especially dangerous in a confined space.
Similar to any other flammable gas or flammable liquid, propane is very safe when stored and handled properly. However, if propane is not properly and safely stored and handled, it can cause property damage, injuries, or even death. For this reason, it is important for the safety of the members of your household that they have a thorough understanding of the properties and characteristics of propane, and the hazards and risks associated with its use. Contact your local propane dealer with questions that you have about propane.
In its natural state, propane is odorless and colorless. A chemical odorant has been added to give a distinct smell to the propane. The purpose of the odorant is to help people detect the presence of propane. It is important that members of the household are able to distinguish the smell of odorized propane. Under certain conditions, a person may be prevented from smelling the odorant such as:
Ask your propane dealer to demonstrate the smell of odorized propane and provide an explanation about the odorant.
The propane system at your home or business should be installed, maintained and repaired only by qualified personnel. Call a qualified service technician to light or re-light pilot lights on your appliances.