With the recent snowstorms in Central Pennsylvania, many homeowners may be wondering if they are storing their gasoline properly. With gasoline, safety comes first. Proper storage will ensure no detrimental accidents, like fuel leaks or, even worse, a fire occurs. If you keep your gasoline in a storage shed or detached garage, there are a few things you need to do to ensure it is stored correctly. Here are some tips on how to properly store gas during the winter.
Make Sure the Container is Full
We’ve found that keeping gasoline in an approved container is the safest way to store it. When the cold winter months come around, you will need to make sure the container is either emptied or completely filled. If your gas container is low by the winter, and you do not see yourself needing gas for the season, then try to use the rest of it up so you are not wasting the extra gas. When the fuel levels in the containers are too low, the gas will freeze during the winter, making it unusable. If you know you are going to use the gas for the winter for snowblowers or generators, fill the gas tank till it is 95% full. Do not fill it the whole way, as sometimes gas can expand in cold temperatures so filling it to 95% capacity accounts for that.
Gasoline Containers
Gas needs to be stored in an approved container designed for fuel storage. Approved containers usually hold up to five gallons of gas and are colored red to distinguish them from other fuel types. Containers must comply with the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code and OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.106 and 29 CFR 1926.152 standards. They will usually have a label on the container that says it meets the required standards.
Gasoline Container Materials
Materials like metal or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic are the best options for storing gasoline. These materials won’t damage the gas and will prevent leaks from happening. Metal is a more durable option than plastic, but metal containers can rust over time, which plastic will not. We do not recommend that you store gasoline in a glass container, as this material breaks easily, causing harmful spills and leaks.
How to Store Gas Containers
When storing these containers, make sure it is upright to further prevent leaks from occurring. You must tightly screw in the cap to ensure no dust or moisture gets into the gas. This will help the gas oxidize slower, making it last the whole winter. Finally, they must be properly labeled, with the red container signifying it is gasoline and with the date you filled it.
Fuel Stabilizers
Gas can expire if it is unused for a few months. Adding fuel stabilizers to new gas will increase its lifespan by up to two years. When you add fuel stabilizers to gas, it prevents compounds and microbial from growing on the gas and it won’t oxidize as quickly. When you don’t add it, the gas will go bad over time and won’t be usable when spring comes and you need to use it. A good budget-friendly stabilizer is the STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer, effective in all gasoline.
Store in a Well-Ventilated Area
Gasoline should be stored in a well-ventilated area of your shed or garage. The area must have proper ventilation to keep fresh air flowing in and out of it, ensuring no harmful fumes percolate inside the shed. We recommend you store the container in an area that is designated for storage, so you aren’t walking by it as frequently, lowering the chance of accidents. It is best to keep it somewhere high up, like on a metal shelf, so kids and pests can’t get into it as easily. Here at Glick Structures, we have many options for our sheds and detached garages, including adding ridge vents to them to ventilate the structure properly.
Keep it Cool
The container needs to be kept cool, therefore you should avoid storing it in a hot place where it could catch fire. Store it in a place away from any ignition sources, like generators, engines, power outlets, direct sunlight, and (obviously) an open flame. If you use your shed or garage to store lawnmowers, snowblowers, or the like, keep them on the other side of the shed away from where you store the gas. Our ridge vent options for our structures will help keep your shed cooler, making sure no direct heat reaches the gas. Luckily in Central Pennsylvania, our winters are generally cold, so you shouldn’t have to worry about the shed getting too hot in the winter.
At Glick Structures, we build our sheds to accommodate all customer’s needs, including storing flammable materials. We can build our sheds with reinforced floors, shelves, insulation, and ventilation to make the structure fit to properly store gas in the winter. Check out our Designing Your Own Shed page to learn more about the options we offer, and check out our 3D Builder to begin creating your custom shed. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
