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Natural
Gas Safety
Natural gas is one of the safest forms of energy available today.
But just like electricity, gasoline, fuel oil or any kind of
energy, it can be dangerous if it is not handled properly. The
following are a few safety tips to help you handle the natural
gas appliances in your home more safely.
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Follow directions from the manufacturer for using and taking
care of gas appliances. Always have a licensed heating contractor,
plumber or appliance repair representative make repairs
to your natural gas equipment.
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Keep
combustible materials such as papers, fluids, paints, curtains
and rags away from furnaces, water heaters and gas ranges
and dryers.
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Keep
your gas range clean. Make sure burner bowls are free of
used matches, grease, paper, etc.
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Have
a fire extinguisher near your appliances. Install smoke
detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
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Keep
the pilot lights of your gas range lit. If you put them
out to save energy, a dangerous gas build-up can occur if
someone accidentally turns on the range.
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Never
use your gas range to heat your home.
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Make
sure natural gas appliances have proper ventilation according
to manufacturer’s instructions.
Keep chimneys and flues clear. Have your fluepipe and chimney
checked to make sure they’re not blocked with debris such as
nests, branches or ivy.
How can I tell if there’s a gas leak? 
Your sense of smell should tell you. Natural gas itself
is odorless. Columbia Gas of Kentucky adds an odorant, called
Mercaptan, so that the gas has that familiar "rotten egg" smell.
The odor is very strong, so you should able to smell the odor
when there is very little gas present.
If you do smell gas:
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Do not light matches
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Do not turn lights on or off
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Do not use the telephone
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Leave your home immediately
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Call Columbia Gas of Kentucky from a neighbor’s phone
Do not re-enter your home until a representative of Columbia
Gas of Kentucky has told you that it is safe to do so
What is carbon monoxide and
how can I prevent it in my home?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that is colorless,
odorless, tasteless and non-irritating. When breathed into the
body, CO combines with the blood and prevents it from absorbing
oxygen. When this blood, deficient in oxygen, reaches the heart
and brain, it can damage those organs and cause illness or death.
Usually carbon monoxide is produced during burning of fuels
such as gasoline, coal, wood, charcoal, kerosene, natural gas,
propane, heating oil and almost any other combustible material
such as tobacco, fibers and paper. While smoke inhalation from
fires is a common cause of CO poisoning, cigarette smoke and
vehicle exhaust are the most common sources of exposure to CO
for most people.
Many people don’t realize that if they start their car in an
attached garage – even with the garage door open – they can
be exposing their home and their family to carbon monoxide as
the gas can get into the home under the door between the house
and the garage.
Just like cars, other fuel-burning appliances, including wood
stoves, fireplaces, space heaters, barbecue grills, furnaces,
water heater, boilers or ranges have the potential to produce
carbon monoxide. Fuel-burning appliances should always have
the proper ventilation according to their manufacturer’s instructions
and never be operated in an enclosed space.
Follow these tips to avoid carbon monoxide problems in your
home:
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A 1993 study reported that automobiles were the number one
cause of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning deaths in
the United States. Never operate an automobile, lawn mower
or any combustion engine, barbecue grill or similar equipment
in an enclosed area such as your home, garage, tent or trailer
– even with the door open.
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Never leave a fire smoldering in your fireplace.
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Have fuel-burning equipment regularly inspected by a qualified
technician.
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Check frequently for visible signs of problems such as high
indoor humidity, soot or water collecting near a burner
or vent. Equipment that uses natural gas should show a clear
blue flame; a yellow or orange flame may indicate a problem
and should be checked by a qualified technician.
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Provide adequate combustion air per appliance manufacturer
recommendations.
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Make sure appliance fresh air intakes are not blocked or
restricted.
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Keep vents and chimneys clear of debris or other blockages.
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Don’t try to heat a room with your gas range, oven or clothes
dryer.
If you have an appliance converted from one type of fuel to
another; have the conversion done by a qualified technician.
How can I tell if carbon monoxide
is present in my home?
Carbon monoxide detectors have become more reliable in recent
years. Specifically, those models that feature a digital readout
of CO levels seem to be the most accurate.
If you install only one CO detector in your home, place it in
the hallway near your family’s bedrooms.
What do I do if I suspect carbon
monoxide in my home?
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Open windows to ventilate the area.
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Shut off furnace and other fuel-burning appliances.
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If you’re experiencing physical symptoms of CO poisoning,
like nausea, fatigue, blurred vision, vomiting, confusion,
severe headache, rapid heart rate, get everyone (including
pets) out of the house.
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Call the fire department at 911 or Columbia Gas of Kentucky
at 1-800-432-9515.
Three rules for appliance safety
1. Be sure of your equipment
Heating safety starts with safe equipment. Buy and use
only heating equipment designed to meet national safety standards.
2. Choose an installer you can trust
For safety's sake, have new equipment installed by a qualified
heating dealer. This will assure not only proper adjustment
and venting, but also that the equipment has an adequate supply
of fresh air for safe, efficient operation.
If you have a chimney into which the equipment is vented and
it has a cleanout opening, make sure the opening is covered
with a cap.
If you're converting to natural gas from another heating fuel,
such as oil or coal, be sure to have your flue and chimney cleaned
to remove any trace of deposits left by other fuels.
3. Maintain Your Furnace Properly
Heating systems need periodic inspection and service to
keep them operating efficiently and safely. It will cost a few
dollars to have your furnace checked by a qualified heating
serviceman. But proper servicing is essential to good service,
as well as safe operation, and it may even save lives.
Emergency Phone Numbers
24-Hour Emergency Service: 1- 800-432-9515
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