MEC&F Expert Engineers : NATURAL GAS SAFETY TIPS FOR THE WINTER HEATING SEASON. PREVENT A FIRE, SAVE YOUR FAMILY'S LIFE AND YOUR PROPERTY

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

NATURAL GAS SAFETY TIPS FOR THE WINTER HEATING SEASON. PREVENT A FIRE, SAVE YOUR FAMILY'S LIFE AND YOUR PROPERTY



 
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.