Written on: December 21, 2020
If you use propane in your Hudson Valley home, you can rest easy knowing that you’re using one of the safest fuels around.
One reason why propane is so safe is because strict guidelines govern how it is used, delivered, and handled. Among the most important of these guidelines is the requirement for propane systems to be inspected every time your propane service is interrupted.
To understand why you need an inspection after any interruption in service, you first have to know a little bit about how a propane system works.
In your home, each propane appliance is connected to your central propane tank via a system of plumbing pipes, which transport gas under constant pressure when the system is running. Over time, this pressure strains system pipe fittings and the hardening compounds that seal them. As gas pressure changes – as will happen when you interrupt gas service – pipes joints and seals weaken, which could lead to a gas leak. An inspection includes a leak test to check the integrity of these joints and seals.
The law requires propane leak tests to be performed any time there is an interruption of service – that is, any time the flow of gas has stopped for any reason.
In other words, this means that a leak test must be performed:
If any of the above applies, then a leak/pressure test – performed by a licensed, qualified professional – is required before a propane delivery can be attempted.
The most common reason customers why customers need a leak test is because they run out of gas. For this reason, we recommend taking the following steps to reduce the likelihood of a propane run-out:
Need a propane inspection in the Hudson Valley? We can help! Contact the propane experts at Downey Energy today to learn more.
