Written on: October 2, 2023
Yes. Propane has an exceptional safety record thanks in part to a lot of government and industry regulations. Furthermore, propane is non-toxic, so in the rare event of a spill, you don’t have to worry about it causing damage to the nearby flora or fauna. At Downey we take propane safety seriously. So you can trust your propane delivery to us.
Your propane gas stove is safe to use. In the rare event there’s a leak, however, make sure everyone in your household knows what to do.
If you suspect a propane leak, follow these steps:
You may have heard that in New York City, starting next year, certain types of buildings will have a gas stove ban. In most cases, builders will no longer be able to install any equipment that relies on a fossil fuel in new constructions. What’s more, our governor is an advocate for a similar ban in new constructions throughout New York State as of 2025. She is also an advocate for banning the sale of all heating equipment that burns fossil fuels beginning in 2030. That would include oil and gas boilers and furnaces.
However, the ban on heating equipment does not apply to gas stoves. And there is the chance that newly-constructed restaurants would receive exceptions.
It’s also important to know that any ban enacted would not force residents to remove their existing gas stoves. The rumors that the U.S. government plans to confiscate existing gas stoves from all homes is patently false.
What was the motivation for such bans? Concerns about climate change. That’s because it was estimated that a significant percentage of emissions could be attributed to natural gas. Then there was a shift from environmental concerns to health concerns. This was largely due to a recent study that indicated the potential for indoor air pollution hazards with the use of gas stoves.
Presently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is simply seeking to obtain public input on hazards associated with gas stoves. (The CPSC is the government agency that seeks to reduce the risk of injuries and deaths associated with faulty consumer products.)
The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) has argued that different studies have produced different results in terms of the adverse impact to indoor air that different types of stoves produce. They further argue that the sample size of one study (known as the Stanford study) is extremely small. Furthermore, it’s based on unrealistic cooking conditions. In addition, electric stoves are not without their drawbacks. They also produce particulate matter and can emit dangerous chemicals like formaldehyde.
So, what’s the bottom line? Tucker Perkins, president of PERC, had this to say, “Rather than gas bans, states should focus on natural gas supply chains and mitigate potential hazards…. This, along with proper installation, ventilation, and yearly checkups by qualified technicians constitutes a common-sense approach to addressing health and safety concerns around gas appliances.”
Downey Energy is there for our Hudson Valley customers in New York’s Dutchess County, Orange County, Putnam County, and Northern Westchester County.
Contact Downey Energy today to learn more about the propane delivery and propane tank services we provide.
