Winter Storm Safety: Propane Usage

What you need to know this season

At Hocon, we value safety. It’s our mission to be a safe and reliable source of competitively-priced propane for our customers throughout Connecticut. Our family-owned business wants to make sure that your family is safe this winter. Keep reading to familiarize yourself with how to be a safe and responsible propane customer during a winter storm.

Using propane safely during a winter storm

There are a few things you should do before, during, and after every winter storm to help keep your family safe as well as any fuel delivery teams and technicians that may need access to your property this season.

1. Mark your propane tank with a highly visible, brightly-colored flag or pole so it’s easy to find in several feet of snowfall or snowdrift.
2. Always maintain a clear and safe pathway to your tank for delivery and repair crews. When cleaning snow or ice off the tank, never use a shovel. That could put a hole in it. Use a broom instead.
3. Avoid a potentially serious hazard by letting your neighborhood’s snowplow operators know where your tank is. Don’t assume they’ll remember where it is or be able to see it, especially after a big snowfall or in decreased visibility.
4. Always have enough propane on your property to last several days in case roads are closed after a bad storm. (That would be a terrible time to have a runout!) For additional ease and peace of mind, sign up for automatic propane delivery with Hocon, and leave all the calculations and scheduling to us. We’ll make it our business to make sure you always have enough propane.
5. If any of your home’s propane appliances aren’t working optimally, now is the time to have them repaired. Don’t procrastinate on this. A poorly functioning piece of equipment is more likely to be the cause of a carbon monoxide leak. Carbon monoxide exposure can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, and that is a serious (potentially fatal) medical emergency.
6. If you ever shut down your gas (e.g., if you have a run-out), remember that you are legally required to hire a licensed professional to perform a pressure test and restart your system.
7. Now that severe weather events are becoming more common, consider installing a whole house generator. A whole house propane generator can keep all the important appliances and electronics in your home operating like normal, even if the power is out in your neighborhood. You can’t always rely on the electric grid, but you can count on Hocon to make sure that you always have enough propane to power your generator.

Click here for some additional safety information.

Get comfortable with Hocon

Founded in 1952, Hocon has grown to be one of the largest family-owned propane and heating oil distributors in Connecticut and western Massachusetts. Click here to find the branch serving your neighborhood.

Hocon is just the right size to be able to provide our customers with safe, reliable propane delivery at competitive prices. Our tremendous staff also sells, installs, repairs, and services an array of appliances and heating systems.

Contact Hocon today to experience the best service around. You can feel comfortable with us.