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How-to · 30 minutes

Store fuel safely

Fuel runs generators, stoves and heaters, and it's the most dangerous thing in your stockpile. Store it right.

30 minutes Varies

What you'll need

  1. 1

    Propane

    Keep 1-pound bottles and 20-pound tanks outdoors or in a detached shed, upright, out of the sun. Never store propane in the house, an attached garage or a car.

  2. 2

    Gasoline

    Use approved cans only, add fuel stabilizer when you fill them, and store away from the house and anything that sparks.

  3. 3

    Rotate

    Pour stabilized gas into your car and refill every 6 to 12 months.

  4. 4

    Use it safely

    Generators, grills and camp stoves only outdoors, at least 20 feet from doors and windows. Put a battery CO detector on every floor.

  5. 5

    Check the rules

    Apartments, HOAs and local fire codes often limit how much fuel you can store. Check before you buy.

Tips that make it easier
  • A 20-pound grill tank runs a camp stove as long as about 20 small bottles with an adapter hose.
  • Kerosene and white gas keep for years in sealed original containers.
Mistakes to avoid
  • Running a generator in the garage, even with the door open.
  • Storing gas cans in the trunk.

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