Use and Maintain Appliances as Directed

Propane appliances, like all other fuel-burning appliances, can present the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning if not installed, operated, vented or maintained properly. They require an adequate supply of air for combustion and effective venting of the products of combustion to the outdoors.

Even a small amount of CO is dangerous in enclosed spaces like your home, garage, vehicle, cottage, boat, recreational vehicle or tent. Learn more about carbon monoxide.

Here are some things you can do to ensure your appliances are properly installed, adjusted, vented and maintained:

• Refer to the manufacturer’s installation and operating manuals provided with your home and recreational appliances. They contain operating and maintenance instructions.
• Get regular professional inspections of all components of your propane systems.
• Be sure to leave installation, moving, inspection, testing, repairs and maintenance to qualified service technicians.
• Contact a qualified service technician if you suspect damaged or corroded pipes, as this can indicate a problem with your propane appliance.
• When disconnecting a gas appliance, always contact a qualified service technician to ensure the gas line and connectors are properly closed and sealed.
• Use appliances only for the purpose for which they are intended.
  • For example, never use the oven to heat your home and don’t use outdoor propane appliances or camping equipment like portable heaters, lamps, camp stoves or barbecues in enclosed spaces, including in an R.V., garage, tent, or hunting camp.
  • Use only the fuel for which your appliance was specifically designed.
  • Never use propane with natural gas appliances, unless the appliance has been modified by a qualified service technician to accommodate propane.
• Always be sure your home, camper, or R.V., or other enclosed spaces in which propane appliances are operating are properly ventilated so there is enough oxygen for combustion and so the products of combustion are vented to the outdoors.
• Keep the area surrounding appliances, including countertops and walls, clear to ensure proper airflow and ventilation.
• When operating correctly, propane appliances burn with a blue flame. Yellow flames or soot can indicate incomplete combustion, which may produce carbon monoxide. Turn off the appliance immediately and contact a licensed professional.
• When using a stove, range or fireplace, ensure the vents or chimney flue damper are open and/or turned on.
• Check that indoor vents are not corroded or blocked.
• Check that chimneys and outdoor vents and air inlet ducts are not corroded or blocked (by a bird’s nest, snow or ice or other debris).
• Keep flammable materials away from appliances (e.g., oven mitts, newspapers, toys).
• When shopping for propane equipment, including connectors and gas piping, always ask if the product is certified for use in Canada by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC). Many products sold outside Canada do not comply with Canadian safety standards.
• If you are adding a new fuel-burning appliance or making changes to your home’s ventilation system, including adding new windows and additional insulation, consult a qualified service technician. Changes may upset the operation and proper venting of existing appliances.
• Never use any internal combustion engine (e.g., generator, snow blower, lawn mower) in a garage or other enclosed area. Immediately move your car out of the garage after starting it. This prevents exhaust fumes seeping into the building through connecting doors or vents.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors approved by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).