Somewhere in the kitchen drawer, or the folder by the phone, there is a propane paper that nobody has read since it was signed. Mom probably knew what it said. Dad probably signed it because the truck kept coming. Now the tank is your problem, and the paper is the only thing that tells you how it works.

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What the propane paper actually sets

Read the paper for four things before the cold settles in. First, the fill plan. Some plans let the company decide the delivery from the gauge and the season, some fix a rate for a set period, and some only fill when someone calls. Each one answers a different question: who decides when the tank gets filled? Find out which one he has.

Second, who owns the tank. Many tanks in a yard belong to the company that supplies the gas, not to the house. That matters when you sell, when you switch companies, and when the tank needs repair. Look for the words leased, rented, or owned near the tank description.

Third, the minimum delivery and the fees. Look for a minimum amount per delivery, a late charge, a trip charge, and any charge for a canceled delivery. A paper can be fair in every line and still charge for the drive out.

Fourth, how to end it. Find the notice period for cancellation, the address or number it has to go to, and whether it must be in writing. If the paper renews on its own, write down the exact words that make it renew, so you are not guessing later.

Comparing two companies the same way

If you are thinking of switching, ask each company the same five questions in the same words: which plan fits a house like this, who owns the tank, what the minimum delivery is, what fees apply, and how to cancel. Ask them to send the answers in writing. A company that will not put its answers on paper has told you something too.

What to do tonight

Find the paper. Walk out and read the gauge on the tank, and write down the number. Copy the company's phone number and the account name onto the front of the fridge. Ask Dad, gently, whether he has been waiting for the truck or has been keeping an eye on the gauge. Don't argue about it. Just find out.

When to call right away

If you smell gas, or hear hissing near the tank or the appliances, don't run the furnace, don't light anything, and get everyone out of the house. Call the gas company's emergency line from outside, or call 911. If the gauge is low and nobody is coming, call the company that owns the tank before the heat is at risk. This is the one paper where waiting costs more than a phone call.

A good-week note

A good week is one where the tank was read, the number is on the fridge, and Dad knows who to call without you standing behind him.