While gasoline may not be flammable, the vapors it produces are extremely combustible, so gasoline is considered to be an unstable and potentially deadly substance. The correct gasoline storage practices have to be respected and implemented to protect against any devastating fires or explosions. In order to safely store gasoline, you must know the best places for storage and have approved storage containers. It is also important to understand how to store gasoline if you are using it for a home power generator.
The best places for gasoline storage
Never store gasoline in your home. Storing gas in your home is not just a serious fire hazard, but a public health hazard as well. Exposure to the fumes is associated with certain health risks. Gasoline should always be kept in an outdoor structure such as a tool shed, storage barn, or separate garage. The structure should have an average internal temperature of about 80° Fahrenheit or below.
No potential sources of ignition should be anywhere near these storage locations, including hot water tanks and radiators. To be safe, you should also have a fire extinguisher handy at all times near your gasoline storage location.
Only use approved containers
Gasoline should only be stored in authorized containers that are firmly sealed and clearly labeled. Home and hardware stores usually have a wide selection of storage containers to browse through. Don’t keep gasoline in glass jugs or other improvised receptacles and make sure the storage containers you do use have suitable lids. Simply stuffing a rag into the hole of a container is inadequate and poses a major fire hazard.
It is best to store the least amount of fuel required for an operation. Gasoline rapidly decomposes, so it is less pure if it has been stored for longer than several weeks. As a result, gasoline that is stored over the winter season will probably be worthless by the time spring comes.
Gasoline and home generators
In case you own a home generator for use during power outages, you should never try to store gas in its tank. This is again due to gasoline’s tendency to rapidly break down. If your generator is unused for an extended period, the gas sitting in it may cause severe destruction to the internal parts. Instead, store your gasoline in an approved receptacle and only add the gas to your generator when you need to. Don’t store your gas in the same room or location where your generator operates either, since a generator is a potential source of ignition.
It is important for anyone who handles gas to understand how to safely store this fuel. If you would like to learn more about proper storage procedures for wholesale fuel, contact the professionals at Kendrick Oil today. You can call us (800) 299-3991 or Contact Us by email for more information about our products and services. We have locations in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Louisiana.
