16 - Friday, July 2 HOM Use barbecue with care THE SCENE: It’s a beautiful sum- mer evening. Tonight’s cook is get- ting ready to barbecue supper. The gas is tured on (with the lid still closed), then a match is found and, once it's lit, the barbecue is moved over a few feet. By M. H. Parnu Contributing Writer This person has just increased his or her chances of being burned by exploding gas. Anyone who has cooked a siz- ziing steak over a backyard barbe- cue knows that propane can be an efficient fuel for cooking. But care- less use and storage of propane or propane-buming appliances can be a hazard. What can you do that our should our barbecuer didn’t do? CO Lift the lid before lighting the barbecue. You can suffer facial injuries from the lid blowing upwards due to gas tapped under- neath. G Have the match or lighter already burning before turning on the “propane. Light the barbecue the moment the gas flow is on, other- wise you risk being burned by exploding gas. 0) Leave the barbecue in its place — never move it once you've lit the propane! While propane barbecues are cleaner and faster than charcoal barbecues, they do require some maintenance and a few basic pre- cautions. Used with care, propane is a safe and convenient fuel. While it is not tozic, it can cause suffocation in a confined space. Propane has a very distinctive odor that is associated with boiled - cabbage or rotten eggs. This odor is added for your protection so that the smallest leak can be detected. Propane leaks Propane is a flammable gas that can cause fires and explosions. If you detect a leak: ©} Shut the fuel supply off immedi- ately. O Instruct people to leave the immediate area. © Eliminate all sources of ignition (extinguish open flames). ‘Gi Let the area ventilate for a few minutes. As propane is heavier than air most of it will diffuse when released, but it can collect in low places. . C1 Check for leaks. To check for leaks, the hose and all joints should be soap tested. _. Make up a solution of dishwash- ing soap and water. Leave the bar- becue valve turned off and the cylinder valve tumed on. Spread the soapy solution gener- ously on al! fittings and the hose. If bubbles appear and become larger or increase in number, then you have a leak and you need to get it repaired. Never check for leaks with an open flame. Barbecue maintenance OG Make sure the burner ports are free of rust or dit and that the burn- er throat is free of dust or cobwebs. Check your maintenance manual for instructions. 1] Tanks should be retested every 10 years. If you haven’t used your tank for any length of time or kept it plugged, have it tested. It may contain contaminants which must be removed before being used again. This purging process should be done by your propane supplier. It’s also a good idea to get it tuned up yearly. © Never refill a tank that is corrod- ed, leaking or shows signs of dam- age. Propane distributors can help by inspecting it for signs of wear before refilling. @ Check hoses periodically and replace if they are cracked. OG The POL (put on left) fitting that connects the barbecue hose to the cylinder has a left-hand thread. Turn it counter-clockwise to tight- en. If your POL fitting has an “O” ring, check it every time you con- nect the cylinder. It requires replacement if it’s out-of-round (bent or worn out of a circular shape), torn or cracked. Transporting propane Make sure the cylinder is upright and secure in a ventilated area. Whenever a cylinder is not connected to an appliance, the valve must be completely turned off and plugged with a safety plug. If you carry a propane tank in the trunk of your car, do not close the lid; prop it open for ventilation and secure it with a bungee cord. If you have no alternative but to carry the tank inside your vehicle, secure the cylinder on the rear floor, passenger side and open the window. Do not leave a filled cylinder in a parked, airtight vehi- cle during hot weather. Propane safety While propane equipment is very safe, sometimes explosions or other accidents occur due to care- lessness or neglect. Propane tanks should never be filled to capacity (18-19 Ibs. for a 22-Ib. tank) to allow room for expansion. There have been cases where tanks were overfilled and left in the sun (which expands the gas inside the tank). The fuel expanded and the tanks caught on fire once they were lit. In case of fire, tell people to leave the immediate area and have someone call the fire department. Set your garden hose to spray water on the cylinder, only if it can be done safely. Do not extinguish the flame unless you can shut off the cylinder. Use only CGA, CSA or ULC approved barbecues and propane appliances. Never barbecue indoors or in poorly ventilated outdoor locations, you risk carbon monoxide poison- ing. Store barbecues outdoors. Leaks from the tank pose a potential fire hazard. Store upright away from open flame or excessive heat. Do not paint the inside of your barbecue because you increase your tisk of food poisoning. If you paint your propane tank, use just light colors since dark colors will attract the heat more. Using propane on vacations Campers and cottagers recog- nize propane’s value but safety . heeds to be applied. Follow manufacturer’s instruc- tions regarding portable camp stoves, heaters or lanterns. Do not barbecue in tents, boats, recreation- al vehicles or other enclosed areas since propane is flammable and fumes are hazardous. Keep fuel in a secured container. Ensure good ventilation in trailers when using fixed liquified petrole- um gas appliances. 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