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Stevens Gas Service
works closely with the surrounding community and area fire departments.
 We
offer training to fire departments for handling propane emergencies.
We also maintain an emergency response trailer with a propane compressor,
propane pump, hoses, and fittings. Our 35 Kilowatt, 3-phase generator
and portable work lights can be taken to any site as needed.
Our Propane Gas Association of New England (PGANE) fully trained
four-person crew is ready to respond to any place in Vermont to
act as advisers and to assist in bringing a propane incident under
control.
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Propane has an odorant added so it can be detected by smell.
If there is a reason you are unable to detect the
odorant in propane, you should have a quality propane detector installed
near the floor in the same rooms where your propane appliances are
located. Remember that propane is heavier than air and will accumulate
near the floor. If you smell propane odor, you should not turn any
electrical switch on or off as the spark could ignite the gas if there
is a strong enough concentration.
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Safety starts with proper maintenance.
After this long, cold winter season
(2002-03) in which your heating units were working overtime, you
should make sure to have a qualified service technician check and
clean your propane heating appliances before the beginning of the
next heating season.
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Propane for your use is stored in one or
more tanks or cylinders. These are available in various sizes.
The tanks are available in above-ground and buried
(underground) styles. They hold 80% of their stated capacity. Example:
a 500 gallon tank actually holds only 400 gallons. See Above
Ground Tank Chart or Underground
Tank Chart for actual tank dimensions.
The cylinders are the upright style, which are available in 200-pound
and 420-pound sizes. The weight designation refers to the weight
of the propane. The 200-pound cylinder holds approximately 50 gallons
and the 420-pound cylinder holds approximately 100 gallons. See
Above
Ground Cylinder Chart for actual cylinder dimensions.
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Q I thought
gas burns clean. Why do I need to have my furnace checked?
A Gas does burn very clean. The
burners of most heating appliances however will develop rust. This
can clog the ports and cause your appliance to burn inefficiently.
In extreme cases this will also produce soot and carbon monoxide.
Q If my boiler
has electronic ignition, can I light it by hand if the power is
out?
A No. There has to be electricity
to open the safety valve for the gas to come in.
Q How much air does
my gas appliance need to operate properly?
A The ratio is 24 parts air to 1
part gas. That is, you need 50 cubic feet of free air for every
1,000 BTU’s input (gas fuel) for your appliance in the room where
it is to be located. If not, then the area is considered a confined
space. In a confined space, neither a natural (chimney) draft nor
a non-direct vented appliance should be used without making provisions
for more outside air. The Stevens Gas Service technical staff makes
these calculations before any installation can proceed.
We welcome your questions.
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