Natural
Gas Safety
Natural
gas is one of the safest and cleanest burning
energy sources available. At National Fuel, providing
safe, reliable natural gas service at the lowest
possible price is our highest priority.
Heating
Safety & Efficiency
Before the heating season begins, have your heating
system inspected by a qualified contractor. The
contractor should provide the following services:
- Check
the heat exchangers for cracks, rust and corrosion.
- Clean
and check the flue and vent pipes for any obstructions.
- Check
your heating system, or have it tested, for
proper ventilation.
- Clean
or replace all furnace filters.
- Check
blower operation, clean and lubricate.
- Check
and adjust any pilots and burners.
- Check
that your gas appliances produce a sharp blue
flame.
- Check
all electrical connections.
Be
sure to keep flammable materials outdoors and
in approved containers, and away from your furnace,
water heater and other gas appliances.
Protecting
Your Family From Carbon Monoxide
What
you can’t see, can hurt you. Carbon monoxide
is a colorless, odorless, potentially dangerous
gas produced when fuel (heating oil, propane,
kerosene, charcoal, gasoline, wood or natural
gas) is burned without enough air for complete
combustion. If inhaled in large quantities for
a prolonged time period, carbon monoxide can cause
unconsciousness, brain damage and death.
Learning
to recognize the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
is the first step toward protecting you and your
family. These symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Coughing
- Headache
- Irregular
breathing
- Dizziness
- Overall
paleness
- Nausea
- Cherry
red lips and ears
If
you, or a family member, experience these symptoms,
immediately open windows and doors to ventilate
your home. Then move outside into the fresh air
and call 911 or your local fire department.
There
are a number of steps you can take to minimize
the potential danger of carbon monoxide:
- Have
your chimney, appliances and furnace inspected
and tested by a qualified professional every
year.
- Never
use a gas oven or stovetop for heating your
home.
- Properly
insulate and weatherize your home.
- Never
run an automobile or gasoline engine in an enclosed
space.
- Never
use a portable charcoal or propane grill indoors.
- Do
not rely on carbon monoxide detectors as a substitute
for maintaining appliances, furnaces or chimneys.
If you do choose to install a carbon monoxide
detector, use it as an additional preventive
measure. (Note: you should make sure that
any carbon monoxide detector you consider for
purchase is listed by Underwriters Laboratories
(UL) to the current UL 2034 standard, “Carbon
Monoxide Detectors.”)
Detecting
a Gas Odor
Natural
gas is colorless and odorless. We add an odorant
that produces a distinctive "gas smell"
so that leaks are easier to detect.
If
you detect a faint gas smell, check to see if
you have a pilot light out or a burner that is
not completely turned off. If you smell a strong
gas odor, or are unable to detect the cause of
the odor:
- Don't
switch lights on or off.
- Don't
light any matches.
- Do
open doors and windows to ventilate.
- Do
leave the premises.
- Do
call National Fuel's 24-hour gas emergency line,
1-800-444-3130, from another
location.
Gas
Safety in Your Home
Gas
appliances, equipment and connectors should always
be installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions. They may also be subject to manufacturer
product recalls. Improper use of these devices,
or continued use of recalled products may result
in a hazardous situation for you, your family,
or your neighbors. It is recommended that you
periodically check with the Consumer Product Safety
Commission (1-800-638-CPSC or www.recalls.gov)
or the product manufacturer to see if any of your
natural gas equipment has been recalled.
Replacing
Appliance Connectors
Gas
connectors are corrugated metal tubes used to
connect gas appliances in your home to gas supply
pipes. Some older, uncoated brass connectors
can crack or come apart, causing a gas leak
that could result in a very dangerous situation.
Any uncoated brass connector should be replaced
immediately with a new connector made of either
plastic-coated brass or stainless steel.
Only
a qualified, licensed plumber, heating contractor
of appliance repairperson should check your
connector and replace it if needed. Do not try
to do this yourself! Unfortunately, National
Fuel does not provide this service. Do
not move your appliance to check the connector.
Moving the appliance, even slightly, could cause
the complete failure of one of these connectors.
Improper
Piping
National
Fuel does not recommend that you install your
own gas lines. Only a qualified heating contractor
or plumber should install natural gas lines.
If work does need to be done, ask the contractor
to install rigid steel pipe or flexible stainless
steel piping.
Service
Lines
All
gas pipes and lines running from the gas meter
to your appliances belong to the property owner.
He or she should conduct regular inspections
of these facilities to ensure proper/safe operation
and count on maintaining and repairing these
pipes and lines as needed.
Scalding
Hazards
Extremely
hot water can be dangerous. Make sure your water
heater or boiler is set to a safe temperature
(as recommended by the manufacturer). Always
check the water temperature prior to placing
a child in the bathtub, and never leave a child
in the bathtub without adult supervision.
What
To Do In Case of Flooding
If
there has been flooding in your home, play it
safe and call us, especially if you smell natural
gas. Our emergency number is 1-800-444-3130.
Water can damage your natural gas appliances.
If any gas appliance burner or its controls
have been under water, DO NOT attempt to relight
it. A qualified contractor should be called
to inspect the equipment.
Call
Before You Dig, Drill or Blast – It’s
the Law!
A new, national 811 "Call
Before You Dig" phone number and website
– www.call811.com
- make it easier than ever to call before you
dig.
All
excavation projects require a call – even
small projects like planting trees and shrubs,
or installing a fence or mailbox. If you damage
an underground utility line while digging, you
run the risk of harming yourself or those around
you, disrupting service to an entire neighborhood
and potentially being held responsible for fines
and repair costs.
In
New York, you must call 811 at
least two days before you dig.
In
Pennsylvania, you must call 811
at least three days before digging.
Click
here to be directed to the Call 811 website.
Gas
Safety Outdoors
Snow and ice can damage gas meters,
regulators and pipes, as well as damage/render
unsafe gas appliances. Use a broom to keep gas
service equipment clear and inspect roof drainage
to ensure that ice accumulation does not endanger
the equipment. Chimneys and vents for gas appliances
must be kept free of snow and ice to enable proper
venting and prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Ask
For Identification
For
your safety, every National Fuel representative
carries an identification card. If the card is
not clipped onto their clothing for easy viewing,
ask to see it. If representatives display proper
ID, please let them complete their job. If you
are suspicious or have questions, contact us immediately
at 1-800-365-3234. If you feel there might be
a problem, call your local police.
Gas
Theft Tip Line
Stealing natural gas is costly to all of us, and
can be extremely dangerous. If you know of someone
who is tampering with a gas meter or making an
unauthorized connection, please call our confidential,
24-hour, toll-free Gas Theft Tip Line.
- In
New York, call 1-800-992-9926.
- In
Pennsylvania, call 1-800-835-6672.
You could help prevent a crime and protect the
safety of innocent people.
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