Most gas companies offer the following safety tips:
1.
Never use the stove or oven to heat your home.
1.
Replace your furnace filter
2.
Educate your household on how to recognize and
detect a natural gas leak and react safely. If you smell an odor (similar to
rotten eggs) immediately leave the area and from a safe location call 911.
3.
Inspect your CO (Carbon Monoxide) and smoke
detectors and install fresh batteries to ensure they are in good operating
condition. Remember that carbon monoxide can be caused by ANY fuel-burning
appliance, including wood stoves, kerosene heaters, etc.
4.
Keep natural gas meters clear of snow and ice to
ensure they are visible at all times for maintenance by your gas company, and
if necessary emergency responders, and to ensure proper venting. Remove snow
from the meter with hands or a broom. Never use a shovel, or kick or hit the
meter to break away snow or ice. If the meter is encased in ice, contact your gas
company for assistance.
5.
Keep fresh air and exhaust vents for natural gas
appliances free of snow, ice and debris to prevent equipment malfunction.
6.
Use caution when removing snow from flat
rooftops, especially in commercial and industrial buildings, as there may be
heating and cooling equipment and electric or fuel lines that may not be
visible under the snow.
7.
Check around your door and window openings to
see if it is time to replace the caulking or install weatherstripping.
8.
If using a space heater, be sure to use this
equipment according to manufacturer's instructions and keep items that can
burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating
equipment, fireplaces and stoves. Never leave portable heaters, wood burning
stoves or fireplaces unattended. Turn them off before leaving or going to bed.
9.
Place portable space heaters on a hard, level,
nonflammable surface. Do not put space heaters on rugs or carpets, near bedding
or drapes, and keep children and pets away. Look for a model that shuts off
automatically if the space heater tips over. Do not use heating equipment to
dry wet clothing.
10.
Keep the fire in the fireplace by using a glass
or metal screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs. All combustibles must be at least 3 feet away
from any source of heat – this is critical.