Mower and 1 gallon gas storage

[Lawner]

Again if you can smell it vent it....... I agree with this statement keep it somewhere well ventilated

Outside is ventilated but it's 95 degrees today. I guess I can keep it on my patio/porch but I have to find something to disguise it, maybe some kind of wicker basket.

 

[Lawner]

now I'm confused. They said if you can smell the fumes it's a problem
If it's not ventilated it's a problem, which seems contradictory. The container ventilated, the area ventilated ? :thumbdown:

So can gasoline just explode on it's own because it's in a tightly closed container without an ignition source?

 

[Ric]

I have a mobile home which has a semi attached shed. It's not directly connected to the home but it is the patio and shared the patio roof which is connected to the home. The shed has a hot water heater in it. It has a window which I keep closed and no other ventilation.

is it safe to store a gas lawn mower with fuel, and the unused portion of a gallon of gas in a red container in the shed?

I just bought the mower yesterday, it's still in the box and haven't bought the gas yet. It's a low end $150 model from Home Depot, I have a small are to mow.

It's unleaded gasoline, the mower came with a sample of Stabil so I put that in the red gas container for now.

So how and where should I store it?

Actually and I don't know about where your at but to store gas or any type flammable liquids, they should be stored in a yellow metal cabinet labeled as such in your shed or garage with the cabinet being vented to outside, which in your case is a little extreme. If I were you I'd store your gas with your mower in the shed and open the window for ventilation. I really can't see what it would hurt when the mower is already there with gas in the tank.

 

[motoman]

I also use the stabilizer, but do not store as all gas here is ethanol 10%. I understand storing if you are remote rural, but I (personally don't like it). The guys are right, I think. If you detect no fumes by smell, probably ok. If you do smell gas the danger is trapped gas fumes and air in the combustible ratio that can ignite. If you do not smell it keep checking. Gas fumes are heavier than air and will travel along the floor . That is why mechanic pits are not allowed now and why electrical out lets must be (18"?) minimum height. Danger of spark. Garage water heater pilot lights have burned many houses down when combustible fumes reach them. Please be safe.

I reread your "confused" above. I think I'm right in saying the guys are all driving at the fact that ventilation dilutes the concentration of gas above combustion level. It is also true that pure gas fumes with out oxygen (air)will not ignite. It's the point between we're worried about.
Hence the experiment no one tries of putting a lighted match into the car gas tank (too rich to burn, movies aside). I am also (unfortunately) always afraid of attractive nuisance of outside storage wherein a vandal or child can torch your house (ain't life a mess?)

Finally ,do not fill your container up to the top. During temp changes a rise can force liquid gas past the cap.

 

[Lawner]

Actually and I don't know about where your at .

I'm in south Florida.

 

[Ric]

I'm in south Florida.

What type of shed do you have??

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

now I'm confused. They said if you can smell the fumes it's a problem
If it's not ventilated it's a problem, which seems contradictory. The container ventilated, the area ventilated ? :thumbdown:

So can gasoline just explode on it's own because it's in a tightly closed container without an ignition source?

I store mine in the corner of the garage. It is not necessarily vented to the outside, but the doors are open a lot. Ad it doesn't smell normally, BUT....The other day I left the door open too long and the direct sun hit the can, causing it to build up pressure and thus vapor came out of the venting in the can so it didn't explode. It stunk up the garage for hours!

 

[Lawner]

What type of shed do you have??

Metal about 7X7 ft. Has an electric water heater in one corner. It's in the patio/porch area, the wall does not touch the home, but the ceiling area does.

 

[Ric]

Metal about 7X7 ft. Has an electric water heater in one corner. It's in the patio/porch area, the wall does not touch the home, but the ceiling area does.

If it's an aluminum shed then the roof should already be vented where the walls and roof meet and if it has a peaked roof it will have a ridge cap over the peak that will also allow for ventilation, those with the combination of the window should allow for plenty of ventilation for a gallon of gas and a mower. I store up to between 30 and 50 gallons of gas in my garage at a time 7 days a week without any problem.

 

[Lawner]

If it's an aluminum shed then the roof should already be vented where the walls and roof meet and if it has a peaked roof it will have a ridge cap over the peak that will also allow for ventilation, those with the combination of the window should allow for plenty of ventilation for a gallon of gas and a mower. I store up to between 30 and 50 gallons of gas in my garage at a time 7 days a week without any problem.

It get's really hot in there. There was an opening about 8x12 inches but I sealed it up. The windows are about 4 inch slats that roll up, and 1 was off center, so I can twist a few to let some ventilation in.