By: James Greer, Senior VP of Supply and Transportation
Over my years in the propane business, there have been times where that suspected leak call comes in, and it always seems to happen at the worst time. This story is true and will remind you why we have to answer that call and investigate.
During the Memorial Day 2021 weekend, I was at Grand Lake, Oklahoma, visiting my parents. Across the street from my parent’s house is the lake home of Randy and Terryl Henderson.
The Hendersons were leaving to go back to their primary residence in Kansas. Before they left, Randy came across the street and mentioned he and his wife were smelling propane. I told him I didn’t have all the tools I needed to do a leak check, but I suggested that we check it out.
I never smelled propane around the appliances, but I turned the tank off to be safe. The Hendersons told me they would return to the lake later in the week. I then called the local plant manager, Jason Bond, to get a service call scheduled.
On May 27, Clay Brown, a service technician, arrived at the Henderson’s lake house to investigate the situation. Clay discovered that the CSST (Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing) piping running in the attic had been punctured twice by nails when the house received a new roof.
Clay stayed on the scene until a local plumber with the correct repair parts for CSST arrived and repaired the pipe. The system was then leak-checked and put back into service.
This example is why we answer the call! Think about the alternative. Propane is heavier than air and eventually would have drifted into the living space and found an ignition source. I remember telling Mr. Henderson he did the right thing by asking me to come over. I informed him it was better to be safe than sorry. I wouldn’t want to have to read about an accident occurring in their home.