Is It Possible to Not Smell a Propane Leak?

Posted: August 22, 2018

If you use propane to power heating and other home comfort equipment in your Seacoast-area home, you know that a propane gas leak smells like rotten eggs – and (hopefully) what to do if you detect one.

But what if something prevents you from detecting that telltale odor?

Sometimes, conditions in your home – and in your body – can make it harder to pick up propane’s scent. “Odor loss” can be caused by:

• Too much air, water, or rust in your propane tank
• A propane leak underground (soil diffuses propane’s odor)
• Odor “sticking” to the inside of the propane distribution pipes
• A common cold or sinus infection that inhibits your sense of smell

With all this in mind, it is important to take these two precautions for propane leaks:

1. Install a propane gas detector (or detectors, depending on the size and layout of your home). A propane gas detector is an inexpensive but vital piece of safety equipment; follow manufacturer’s instructions for placement and maintenance.
2. When in doubt, follow propane safety procedures – React immediately to even the faintest propane odor, following propane safety measures to get your family to safety.

Your safety is always our priority at P. Gagnon & Son. If you have any other questions about propane safety or propane delivery within our service area, be sure to let us know.