Keep Your Family Safe & Warm

2024 Winter Weather Guide

Prep Your Home for Winter Weather.

Snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice are all a part of the winter season. Along with power outages and dangerous travel conditions, winter storms may make access to fuel and emergency services hard to get to. Follow these tips below for ways you can keep your family safe before, during and after a winter storm.

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Toddler child standing in front of a big french doors, leaning against it looking outside at a snowy nature .

Before

Be Prepared for a Winter Storm

Make sure your propane tank is marked properly by a flag, pole or stake that is higher than the average snow-cover.
Go on AutoFill. During and after a winter storm, roads leading to your home or farm might not be accessible for delivery. Make sure your tank has an adequate supply.
Know how and where to shut to the outdoor propane supply and indoor propane appliances.
Make sure that you and your family know what propane smells like. Propane has a strong, unpleasant smell like rotten eggs, a skunk’s spray or a dead animal.
Have a list of instructions on how to turn off electricity, propane, and water.
Create an emergency preparedness plan and review it regularly.
Install a carbon monoxide detector on every level of your home.

During

What to do when a winter storm approaches

Listen to your local authorities, television and radio stations for instructions on appropriate action to take.
Be aware that snow and ice can create serious problems for your home’s propane system by freezing and cracking pipes, regulators, valves and other types of equipment.
Clear a path: make sure to clear snow and ice away from all outdoor vents, chimneys and flues.
Clear snow and ice from around your propane tank. If the pipes freeze and crack, gas can pool in the snow, causing it to become an ignition source, creating a potentially dangerous situation.

After

What to do after a winter storm

After a storm, use caution in the area surrounding your home.
Check for downed power lines or any other safety hazards on your property.
Never use outdoor appliances indoors or in enclosed areas. This can result in CO poisoning or death. These include outdoor portable heaters, grills and portable generators.
Never store or place a propane cylinder indoors or in an enclosed area.
Never use a gas oven or range-top burners to provide space heating.
Do not, under any circumstances, try to modify or repair valves, regulators or other appliance parts.
If melting snow or ice floods any part of your home, never turn on a light switch, use any power source or inspect your household appliances while standing in water. This can result in electrocution.
Inspect chimneys, flue pipes and vent connectors for damage, blockage or debris.
Inspect your propane appliances for water or other damage if it is safe to do so. If the appliances have electric components and have been exposed to water, they can create a fire hazard.

If you suspect any of your propane appliances, equipment, or vehicles have been under water or they have been damaged, or you have turned off your gas supply:

Schedule a time with a Foster Fuels qualified service technician to perform a complete inspection of your propane system. The technician can also perform a leak test on the system and re-light your pilot lights.
DO NOT use or operate appliances, equipment, or vehicles, or turn on the gas supply, until your system has been inspected by a qualified service technician.
If this is a true gas emergency, dial 911.