Unless you have a way to generate power, you’ll need to stock up on fuel in case the power goes out—or worse, the entire power grid goes down. However, too many preppers stockpile batteries, propane, and gasoline in ways that not only reduce their shelf life, but also pose major safety hazards.
The purpose of this article is to help you store your batteries, propane, and gasoline in a way that is both safe and extends the shelf life of all three. Now on to the list…
1. Do Not Store Your Generator With Gas In The Tank
This is one of the biggest mistakes people make in regards to storing gasoline. Many people wisely have a generator on standby to provide their homes with power for when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, they store it with gasoline already in the tank so all they have to do is pull out the generator and get it running.
But this is a bad idea because the shelf life of the gasoline will be cut very short if it’s left in the generator, which is like wasting gasoline.
Note: To make sure your generator is operational when you need it, pour a little bit of gasoline into the generator every six or so months and run it until it’s empty. That way you’ll know if your generator is running smoothly or if it’s in need of repair.
2. Always Store Gasoline in an Airtight Red Container
Gasoline is stored in red containers, kerosene is stored in blue containers, and diesel is stored in yellow containers. Not only should you store your gasoline in red containers, you should make sure they are airtight. Avoid purchasing used containers as there is a risk of small holes allowing the gasoline to leak out.
3. Never Store Gasoline in the House or Outside
Not one drop of gasoline should be stored in your house for obvious safety reasons. It’s also unwise to store it outside since rain or other natural elements could contaminate it. Plus, it’s dangerous to leave a flammable substance in the hot sun all day. Instead, store your gasoline in the garage. Better yet, store it in a shed separate from your house.
4. Don’t Store Gasoline Near Anything Hot
Since gasoline is highly flammable, you should keep it away from heaters, furnaces, and other ignition sources.
5. Handle Gasoline Spills Carefully
Accidents happen, but it’s still important that you handle gasoline spills in a safe manner. Always clean up gasoline spills as soon as possible. For minor spills, soak up the gasoline with either sawdust or rags. For larger spills, call your local waste disposal center for advice on following all local laws and regulations in cleaning it up.
Dump the recovered gasoline into labeled and approved containers; never dispose of it in toilets or the garbage. Doing so could potentially cause a fire or allow it to seep into lakes, rivers, or groundwater.
6. Never Store Propane Tanks in Living Spaces
The same principle for gasoline storage applies to propane as well. For safety reasons, it’s unwise to store propane tanks or bottles inside your house or in any kind of living space. For this reason, a garage or outdoor shed is your best option. You can also store propane tanks outdoors as long as they’re away from a heat source and out of direct sunlight.
7. Always Check for Leaks
Make it a habit that whenever you purchase a new propane tank or pull an old one out of storage, you always check it and the tubing for leaks. To check for leaks on the tubing, mix water and soap together, dip a washcloth in it, then wipe the tubing. If any bubbles form, there is a leak. Rather than try to repair the leak, just purchase a new tank or tube.
8. Keep Propane Tanks Upright When Transporting Them
Propane tanks should be kept secured in a standing position. Tie them in place with rope or some other kind of strong cordage, but avoid metal chains as they can cause a spark when coming into friction with the tank. If the tank is being transported in a car, keep the windows open and have the valve on the tank locked with a dust cap covering it.
9. Never Check for Propane Leaks With an Open Flame
This should be obvious, but people have done it. It’s simply too dangerous to check for leaks on your propane tanks with a match or lighter. Don’t be stupid.
10. Store Batteries in the Original Packaging
This will extend the life of your batteries and help you avoid confusing them with older ones. Rotate through batteries just like you would with food.
11. Store Batteries in the Refrigerator
You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, but it will extend their shelf life (just make sure they’re in an airtight container). Storing your batteries at room temperature is fine, but it’s best if they never get over 80 degrees F. The maximum temperature they can handle is 120 degrees F.
12. Store a Variety of Batteries
You never know what kind of devices you’ll need to power, so store as many different kinds of batteries as possible. Even if there’s a type of battery you don’t have a device for, you should still store at least a few of them just in case you find something that uses them.
13. Never Dispose of Batteries in a Fire
Doing so is a major safety hazard as it can cause the batteries to explode.
14. Never Store Batteries in the Junk Drawer
Most junk drawers contain metal objects such as keys, coins, paper clips, etc. These things could cause a battery discharge or short circuit, causing it to leak and dramatically reducing its shelf life.
15. Never Store Used Batteries
If you ever come across used batteries, don’t store them. You don’t know what those batteries have gone through and if they’re even safe to use. Every single one of the batteries in your storage should be brand new (unless, of course, they’re rechargeable batteries).
Lately, I’ve been using Rayovac Alkaline batteries for everyday items like remotes and my kids’ toys. Obviously, they’re more expensive than generic batteries, but they seem to last longer.
- Rayovac AAA Batteries – 60 Pack
- Rayovac AA Batteries – 60 Pack
- Rayovac C Batteries – 12 Pack
- Rayovac D Batteries – 12 Pack
- Rayovac 9V Batteries – 8 Pack
If you prefer rechargeable batteries, you can’t beat Panasonic’s Eneloop batteries. Again, they’re a little more expensive, but they will hold a 70% charge for 10 years if you store them properly, and you can recharge them over 2000 times.
- Eneloop AAA Batteries – 12 Pack
- Eneloop AA Batteries – 12 Pack
- Eneloop C Spacers – 2 Pack
- Eneloop D Spacers – 2 Pack
Thanks for reading, and be safe.
I had no idea that you were supposed to keep the propane tanks upright when you transport them! I always just stacked them on top of each other because it was easier to transport them; however, from now on, I plan on keeping them upright! Thanks for the helpful advice!
I am in charge of the gasoline at the convenience store. Looks like we have been storing the gas improperly for some time now! It was helpful to know that is must be stored in and air tight red container! I will be sure to advise my boss
My family is big on storing essential items for natural disasters and we are starting to look into propane gas so this article was perfect. The only thing I knew about propane was what I learned from the TV show King of the Hill and that wasn’t much. It’s good to know that we shouldn’t put our propane tanks in the house with the rest of our food storage. I wonder if propane gas last longer than regular gasoline.
I didn’t realize that there were certain colors used to indicate different kinds of fuel. How long does gasoline last when stored properly in an airtight red container? Does it stop working entirely or will it just reduce the amount of energy it will produce? Thanks for this great information!
I had no idea that a propane tank shouldn’t be stored inside a house or living space. I keep my tank in my garage, which is attached to my house, and so I am a big confused. Most garages are attached to homes and so do you think that it is still wise to store propane in there or should such a thing only be done if the garage isn’t attached?