While working on a jobsite, construction companies often use portable heaters to warm the site in the colder months. In addition to providing more a more comfortable work environment for the workers, heaters also maintain the necessary temperatures needed to perform certain tasks, like drywall installation, roof installation and painting.

Since electric space heaters are likely not practical due to lack of outlets, they often rely on propane fueled gas heaters to keep temperatures consistent. Propane is a reliable fuel source and serves about 60 million people in the United States, from households to construction sites. When using a construction propane service, it’s important to keep some things in mind:

• Check your tanks
  Be sure that the propane tanks are in good shape, show no signs of rusting, bulges, or cracks. While propane gas is harmless to inhale, propane in its liquid form is -44 degrees Fahrenheit at the boiling point, and will freeze everything around it if spilled. If a tank shows significant signs of damage, contact your propane services provider and ask them to inspect or replace the tank. Leak detector solutions are available, but never use soap and water on the tanks, as they may have corrosive effects on the cylinders.
  
  Construction sites must pay very strict attention to safety and meet all OSHA requirements. Every propane cylinder must have the collar and required markings on them to ensure that the propane you are using is in compliance with the rules and regulations used when dealing with hazardous materials.
• Place the tank in an appropriate place
  Assess the risks of freezing and thawing of the tank if weather becomes inclement and adjust the position of the tank accordingly, but be sure to always transport cylinders in an upright and secured position. Do not store any sort of combustable material near the taks, as the gas is flammable.
  
  For indoor jobs, don’t use a cylinder that holds more than 100 pounds of propane, and don’t connect more than three 100-pound cylinders to one pipe manifold inside a building. There should be 20 feet between each manifold.
• Shut off the gas when you’re done
  When the project is finished, turn off gas at the container valve first, to drain the hoses or pipes, then shut off the heater.

On-site construction propane services are extremely clean and energy efficient, just like residential propane use. Regardless of the size of the jobsite, they will not sacrifice power and effectiveness.