GAS GRILLS

1. Inspect the cylinder of your propane tank for bulges, dents, gouges, corrosion, leaks or evidence of extreme rusting. Also, examine the hoses on your grill for brittleness, leaks, holes, cracks or sharp bends. If you find any of these problems, it's time to replace the equipment.
2. Never smoke near your gas grill, whether it's in use or not. You can't be sure that there's not a slight gas leak somewhere in the unit, so it's always better to be safe than sorry.
3. Propane tanks require sophisticated valve equipment to keep them safe for use with grills. Never try to remove the valve from your propane tank, because you'll risk an explosion. In addition, always close the tank valve when you're finished using it.
4. Keeping containers or any other grill parts that are under pressure in a hot car for too long will cause an increase in the pressure of the gas, which could cause an explosion.
5. Never dispose of your propane tank by throwing it in the trash. Check to see if there are municipal programs for collection in your area. If your grill uses a disposable tank, take care to use up all the residual gas before discarding it.

-- U.S. Fire Administration