How to Store Gasoline Safely at Home (Legal Limits, Cans and Rotation)

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When a hurricane is coming, an ice storm hits or the grid goes down, gas stations are one of the first things to fail. The pumps need electricity, and the stations that do have power get mobbed. If you have to get to family, run a generator or just get to work, having some fuel at home can make all the difference.

But gasoline is dangerous to store the wrong way, and there are legal limits most people never hear about. Here is how to do it right.

First: how much can you legally store?

This is the part most prepper sites skip. Most U.S. towns follow fire codes based on the International Fire Code and NFPA 30, and a common residential limit is 25 gallons of gasoline total across your whole property. Many codes also limit how much can be kept in an attached garage (often about 10 gallons) and ban gasoline storage in basements entirely.

Your local rules may be stricter or looser, so call your local fire department or fire marshal and ask. It takes five minutes.

Use the right containers

• Approved gas cans only, 5 gallons or smaller. Red is the standard color for gasoline. Yellow is for diesel, blue for kerosene.
• Never use milk jugs, water bottles or random containers. Gasoline can eat through some plastics, and a mislabeled container is an accident waiting to happen.
• Fill cans on the ground, never in your truck bed or trunk. Static electricity can spark a fire.
• Do not overfill. Leave a little room for the fuel to expand as temperatures change.

Good 5-gallon cans are cheap. Scepter is a common brand you will find at Walmart, Costco, hardware stores and on Amazon.

Where to store it

• Best: a detached shed or garage, away from the house.
• Okay (small amounts): an attached garage, within your local limit.
• Never: inside your living space, in a basement, or near anything with a pilot light like a water heater or furnace.
• Keep cans out of direct sunlight and off the ground if possible, in a well-ventilated spot.
• Keep them away from kids and pets, and keep a fire extinguisher rated for flammable liquids (Class B) nearby.

How long does gas last?

Untreated gasoline starts to break down in a matter of months, usually around 3 to 6. Old gas can gum up engines and cause starting problems.

Adding a fuel stabilizer when you fill the can extends that to about a year, sometimes longer, depending on the product. Follow the dosing on the bottle.

The rotation trick

The easiest way to always have fresh fuel: use it. Every 6 to 12 months, pour your stored gas into your car or truck and refill the cans with fresh gas and stabilizer. Write the fill date on each can with a paint marker. No waste, and your emergency fuel is always fresh.

Taking fuel on the road

If you ever need to drive a long way to reach family during an emergency, extra fuel can get you through areas where stations are down. Keep it safe:

• Strap cans upright in the bed of a truck or on a rated cargo carrier.
• Never carry gas inside the cabin of your vehicle. The fumes alone are dangerous.
• Keep the caps tight and check them at every stop.
• Check your vehicle’s payload limit. Gas weighs about 6 pounds per gallon, so 20 gallons plus cans is roughly 130 pounds.

A smarter plan for long trips: keep your tank above half full all the time, carry a few cans from home, and top off as you go before you reach the affected area. Stations outside the disaster zone are usually open.

Getting gas out of the can

Most modern cans have spill-proof spouts that pour on their own. For a faster, cleaner transfer, a simple hand siphon (often called a “jiggle siphon”) costs around $10 to $15 and needs no electricity.

Quick safety rules

• No smoking or open flames anywhere near fuel.
• Store away from the house whenever you can.
• Never refuel a hot generator. Let it cool first.
• If you smell gas fumes in an enclosed space, get everyone out and air it out.
• Keep a Class B fire extinguisher where the fuel is stored.

Planning for a long-distance emergency drive? Pair this with our car emergency kit checklist.