How To Turn Off A Propane Tank

It's summer and, boy, are you enjoying the grill. But you're going out of town, and you think you should probably turn off the propane while you're gone. You're right and, in fact, you need to turn it off after every single use. But first, you need to know where and how to do it, including identifying the valve.

The most common use of propane tanks is to power gas grills. These are typically 20-pound tanks. The propane supply to the grill should be turned off after each use. This may seem extreme to some grill owners, but it's a fact that, if the knob were to be bumped or turned on by mistake — or if rodents chewed through the gas hose, not an uncommon occurrence — the best-case scenario would be that you would waste a lot of propane, and the worst case would be a fire or explosion.

1. Inspect the Tank

Start by taking a good look at the propane tank. Maintaining the tank is an important part of grill care. Wipe dirt and foreign material from the top of the tank around the gas valve and from the gas valve itself with a rag.

2. Check the Grill

Turn all knobs on the grill to the off position.

3. Find the Valve

The propane valve is at the top of the tank and resembles a male hose end. Attached to it is the knob, which is usually shaped like a fat triangle or a rounded star shape.

4. Turn It Off

The valve knob should have a dial with an arrow indicating the directions for open and close. Turn it in the off direction (almost always clockwise). Be sure to turn the knob all the way so you know it's completely off and closed.

Some homes use large propane tanks for heating or cooking indoors. Sometimes you need to turn off the propane at individual appliances, but other times you need to turn off the main tank. These are large tanks stored outdoors near the house or in the yard.

The tanks can hold hundreds of gallons, so it is important to know how to turn off the gas if needed. Cylinders used to supply home cooking appliances with propane need not be turned off after each use, but need to be turned off if the appliance won't be used for extended periods or when the cylinder needs to be changed.

1. Locate the Shutoff Valve

The top of the tank has a large, round lid with a hinge allowing you to open it. When you open the lid of the tank, you can see the shutoff valve, typically a round knob.

2. Stop the Flow of Propane

Turn the knob to the right or clockwise all the way to close the valve and stop the flow of propane. If you have multiple tanks, shut them all off.

Keep propane tanks in good working order by having them inspected regularly, as leaking propane containers are extremely dangerous. Propane tanks used for home grilling have expiration dates, after which the vendor selling the propane will no longer fill the tank, but will replace it with another. Still it's the owner's responsibility to inspect and ensure that the tank appears to be in good shape between fillings.

It's safe to turn your small propane tank off and back on, but never turn the gas on yourself for larger tanks in your yard that run bigger appliances. For these types of tanks, contact the propane supplier.