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
Once annually, 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 and controls.
Always be sure to keep flammable materials outdoors, in approved containers and away from your furnace, water heater and other natural gas appliances.
Protecting Your Family From Carbon Monoxide
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 even death.
Learning to identify 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 anyone in your household, experience these symptoms, immediately open windows and doors to ventilate your home, then move outside and call
9-1-1 or your local fire department.
There are a number of steps you can take to minimize the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, including:
- Have your chimney, appliances and heating equipment inspected and tested by a qualified professional every year.
- Ventless heaters should be installed to manufacturer’s specifications and should never be used as a primary heat source.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Do not rely on carbon monoxide detectors as a substitute for maintaining appliances, heating equipment or chimneys. If you do choose to install a carbon monoxide detector, use it as an additional preventative measure.*
- Clear snow and ice from exhaust and combustion air vents for gas appliances to prevent carbon monoxide from accumulating in your home.
- Never use a gas oven or stovetop for heating your home.
- Never run a gasoline engine (such as a gasoline generator) or an automobile in an enclosed space.
- Never use a portable charcoal or propane grill indoors.
*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.” National Fuel does not endorse or recommend any specific brand of carbon monoxide detector.
Detecting a Gas Odor
Natural gas is colorless and odorless. National Fuel adds 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 and open windows and doors to ventilate. If you smell a strong gas odor, or are unable to detect the cause of the odor:
DO
- Leave the premises.
- Call National Fuel’s emergency line, 1-800-444-3130, from a different location.
DON’T
- Switch lights on or off.
- Light any matches.
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 or 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. He or she is also responsible for 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 before appliances can be used again.
Call Before You Dig, Drill or Blast – It’s the Law!
A damaged gas pipeline or service line to a house may create an explosion hazard resulting in injury and death, severe property damage and loss of vital service. If you are planning a project that involves digging, trenching, drilling, grading or excavating:
- In New York, call 8-1-1 before you dig at least two full business days before the start of your project.
- In Pennsylvania, call 8-1-1 before you dig at least three full business days before the start of your project.
- We will send a professional to conduct a FREE site survey and mark the underground lines on your property.
- Once your underground lines have been marked, you will know the approximate location of your utility lines.
- Respect the marks and dig with care.
- Have an emergency plan.
8-1-1 is the national number you should call before you begin any digging project. Whether you are planning to do it yourself or hire a professional, smart digging means calling 8-1-1 before each job.
Click here to be directed to the Call 8-1-1 website.
Encroachment
Even if a construction project is not expected to interfere directly with existing pipelines, you may still be in danger of locating or digging too closely to related facilities. This is known as encroachment. To ensure your safety and National Fuel’s ability to access its pipelines, call our toll-free number at
1-800-365-3234.
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 his or her clothing for easy viewing, ask to see it. If proper ID is displayed, please let the representative complete his or her 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 the 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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