While your garage is a great place for storage, it’s always a good idea to be careful when it comes to storing things that could be dangerous.
One thing that people often want to store in their garage, but aren’t sure whether it’s safe to do so or not, is propane tanks and so they find themselves reading this article.
What they find out is…
It is not safe to store propane tanks in a garage. One of the most important things when it comes to storing propane tanks is that they should be stored outdoors. If propane tanks are kept inside or in any enclosed area, they are a fire hazard.
Below you’ll find everything else you need to know about propane storage in your garage
Propane Storage Overview
- Keep the propane outside in a well-ventilated area
- Keep away from sources of heat, sparks, naked flames and direct sunlight
- In an upright position
- On a dry, level surface that is away from doorways
Can You Store a Propane Tank in the Garage?
As I’ve said already…
it’s a bad idea to store propane tanks in your garage.
If a propane tank leaked in your garage this would cause flammable gas to build up inside and this would present a serious fire hazard.
The garage is a bad place to store propane given that vehicles, machinery, hot barbecues or other things that can ignite a fire are often stored inside them as well.
As well as not storing propane tanks in your garage, you should not store them inside at all. Porches, carports, basements, sheds, and all other enclosed areas are bad places to store propane tanks.
Be careful because sheds are also a bad place to store propane tanks. Just as in a garage, gas from a leaking propane tank could build up in your shed and present a fire hazard.
Where Should You Store a Propane Tank?
Propane tanks should be kept outside in a cool, well-ventilated area that is away from direct sunlight.
Other important things to remember are…
- The area where your tanks are stored should have a flat, dry surface that the tank can stand on securely without being at risk of rust caused by water.
- As well as the area being dry, there should be no corrosive or dangerous chemicals in the area that could damage the tank or cause a fire.
- Propane tanks should be kept away from doorways or other building entry and exit points.
- The area they are kept in should have no heat sources or sources of ignition. Keeping a propane tank in a smoking area or an area where tools are used, for example, is a bad idea.
Your outside propane storage area should be above ground level and should be well ventilated.
Because propane sinks in air (rather than rises away like most gases), if it leaks into the air in an enclosed area or somewhere that is below ground level it will not drift away and escape. This means that in an enclosed area or in an area below ground level, leaked propane will stay in the area and present a fire hazard.
Is it OK to leave a Propane Tank Outside in the Summer?
It is safe to store propane tanks outside all year round, including in the summer. There is, however, one important thing to remember…
Keep your propane tank out of direct sunlight.
When a propane tank heats up in sunlight this causes the pressure inside the tank to increase. While it is unlikely that sunlight will actually cause a tank to explode, increased pressure inside the tank will make it more likely to leak. In turn, leaking propane could cause a fire.
IS it OK to leave a Propane Tank Outside in the Winter?
Cold temperatures are not dangerous for propane and so, yes, it is okay to leave your propane tank outside in the winter.
However, while cold temperatures aren’t dangerous for propane, if the temperature gets cold enough it can cause pressure problems. When a propane tank gets so cold that it stops working properly this is known as ‘freezing up’.
What happens when a tank ‘freezes up’ isn’t that the propane actually freezes. Propane doesn’t freeze until it gets to -306 °F (-188 °C).
Propane does, however, stop being a gas when it gets to -44 °F (-42 °C). This means that it won’t flow out of the tank and be useful for cooking or anything like that. Also, the closer the temperature gets to -44 °F, the lower the pressure will be in the tank and the slower the outflow of gas will be.
To put it simply, the closer a propane tank gets to -44 °F, the more of a chance there is that you won’t be able to use it properly.
To get around this problem, people who live in cold areas sometimes keep their tanks in designated heated areas for propane or in specialist heated blankets.
What is the Max Temperature a Propane Tank Can Withstand?
The maximum temperature that a propane tank can withstand is 120 °F (49°C).
Like with keeping a propane tank in direct sunlight, if a propane tank is kept in temperatures above 120 °F there is an increased chance of dangerous leaks or other problems developing.
Final Thoughts
A garage is a great place for doing all kinds of things, including storing things that you only use every so often, like propane tanks.
While it’s a good idea to make the best use of it that you can, it’s also important to be safe when it comes to storing dangerous things in there.
One thing that is too dangerous to be kept in a garage is a tank of propane.
Remember that when propane leaks from a tank into an enclosed area it builds up and will explode or cause a fire if something ignites it. In a garage, if there is a propane leak, starting your car or using a tool (or doing anything else that creates a flame or heat) could cause a very dangerous fire or explosion.
Looking to store other items in your garage? Check them out below!
