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Meter Information
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Natural Gas
Safety
Also available are the 2007 safety requirements for excavation adjacent
to natural gas pipelines.
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If you smell
gas, click here
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Call before you dig!
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If there is an earthquake and you believe you must shut
off your gas service, follow the instructions in this
brochure. Do
not turn off your gas unless you smell gas or hear gas leaking. In the event
of a major emergency, increased work volumes may cause service delays.
It could be days before a service technician can be scheduled to get to
your home and restore service. Take a few simple precautions. Secure your
natural gas water heater to a wall so it won't fall over. Also, move flammable
material away from any natural gas appliance. After an earthquake, check
to be sure nothing flammable has fallen or spilled near a natural gas appliance.
If you detect a strong natural gas odor or hear the hissing sound of natural
gas, follow the instructions in this brochure to shut off your gas.
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Serious accidents in the home can be caused by flammable
liquid vapors. Vapors from flammable liquids such as gasoline, cleaning
solvent, contact cement, and paint thinner can ignite from an open flame,
such as a natural gas water heater or furnace pilot light. These accidents
occur most often in garages and basements. Many flammable vapors are heavier
than air. That is why codes require that heating equipment used in a garage,
which generates a glow, a spark, or a flame capable of igniting flammable
vapors shall be installed with the pilots and burners, or heating elements
and switches, at least 18 inches above the floor level. Take these important
precautions:
- Flammable liquids must always be used in the open,
NEVER in confined areas or without adequate ventilation.
- When using flammable liquids, work in a well-ventilated
area away from any ignition source - including a pilot light or electronic
ignition.
- Do not fill your lawn mower with gasoline or use
cleaning solvent or paint thinner near a natural gas appliance. Spills
on concrete floors can spread and vaporize quickly.
- Store flammable liquids out of reach of children
and away from source of ignition.
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Under normal operating conditions, natural gas burns cleanly,
producing heat, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. Natural gas is non-toxic
and is the cleanest burning fossil fuel available. But if natural gas isn't
burning properly or the appliance has a mechanical problem, it could create
a hazard. Incomplete combustion of natural gas produces carbon monoxide,
which is an odorless, poisonous, and potentially fatal gas. A couple of
indicators of incomplete combustion can be a yellow flame (blue is normal)
or combustion odors or soot around the front of the furnace or water heater.
If you or other members of the household feel out of breath, dizzy, nauseous,
or have headaches, you could be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.
You need to get fresh air right away. Then call your emergency provider.
Have your gas appliances inspected regularly by a qualified heating technician.
Annual equipment checks by a qualified technician can be the best prevention
of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide detectors used in the home
should meet Underwriters Laboratories Standard UL2034. They should be located
in or near bedrooms, or adjacent hallway. Follow the manufacturers' instructions
when installing a carbon monoxide detector. For more information go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/466.html.
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Should a situation arise where you need to turn off your
gas supply immediately, please follow this simple procedure: Locate the
shut-off valve on the riser pipe (the pipe running from the ground to your
meter). You will need a crescent or pipe wrench to turn the valve. When
the valve head is parallel to the riser pipe, it is in the open position.
Turn the valve head crosswise to the pipe and it will be in the closed position
. There are also natural gas shut-off valves on the pipes fueling individual
gas appliances.
Warning: once the gas is off, leave
it off.
Call your nearest ENSTAR office when you are ready for
the gas to be turned back on. A qualified service technician will check
your system, turn on your service, and relight your appliances for you.
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Many natural gas appliances and most water heaters use
pilot lights that burn continuously. New natural gas appliances, except
water heaters, have electronic ignition. Pilot lights on gas water heaters
ensure hot water during electrical power outages. The automatic shut-off
valve on most appliances prevents the main burner from coming on if the
pilot is not lit. If the pilot goes out, the automatic shut-off valve is
activated and the appliance will safely shut off. Range top burners and
burners on some older appliances do not have automatic shut-off valves.
If there is a gas odor from an unlit pilot light, report it to the nearest
ENSTAR office.
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According to State Mechanical Code, "fuel-burning appliances
shall be vented to the outside in accordance with their listing and label,
and manufacturers' installation instructions." ENSTAR does not provide gas
service to unvented heaters inside buildings. For your safety, you
need to operate your appliance in accordance with manufacturer's instructions
and have them inspected by your local building department. Gas and electric
dryers need to be ducted to the outside to prevent moisture and lint accumulations.
Check your vent or chimney. Make certain it is tight, clean, and in good
repair to ensure proper venting. Promptly report any combustion odor to
the nearest ENSTAR office.
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Teach kitchen safety to all members of your household,
especially children. Teach children not to turn any range knobs. Keep all
combustible materials such as paper-towels, curtains, clothing and electric
cords away from range burners. Keep burners and the range top clean. Boil-overs
and accumulations of grease can create a fire hazard. Keep an all-purpose
(ABC-rated) fire extinguisher in a convenient location. In the event of
a range-top fire, use the extinguisher. You can also use baking soda to
put out a grease fire. Small fires often can be smothered with a wet towel
or a large pot cover. If a burner flame goes out, shut off the range knob.
Wait for the gas to dissipate, then relight the burner. When lighting a
manually-operated oven or top burner (no pilot light), always light the
match first, place it at the burner and then turn on the range knob. Shut
the burners off when not in use.
Hot Water Safety
Children have sensitive skin and it can burn much easier than an adult's.
There are some simple rules that all parents should follow for hot water
safety. Never put your child in the tub while the water is still running.
Fill the tub, then put your hand all the way into the water. Spread
your fingers and move your hand back and forth the full length of the tub
to check for hot spots. Always stay with your child while they are
in the tub - even if the phone rings. Children can turn on hot water
in a flash and it only takes seconds to burn or drown. The water coming
out of your faucet should never be hotter than 120 degrees. If your
water heater is set too high, turn it down or have your plumber do it for
you.
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As the home heating season begins all consumers should
have their gas and other fuel-burning appliances inspected by a professionally-trained
technician. This annual check can help prevent fires and carbon monoxide
poisoning.
A Word About Flexible Connectors
Older flexible gas connectors that connect home appliances
to gas supply pipes may still be in use. These gas connectors are corrugated
tubes made of uncoated brass. They may crack or break, resulting in a gas
leak, fire, or explosion.
Homes built and appliances installed within the past 20
years should not be at risk. But, uncoated brass flexible gas connectors
may still be in people's homes. As these connectors age, the become more
dangerous. All uncoated flexible brass connectors should be replaced.
Only a professional should inspect the connectors, which
are most often used with gas ranges, ovens, and clothes dryers. Even slightly
moving an older appliance to clean or check it for the presence of an uncoated
brass connector can cause the connector to fail. This can allow gas to leak,
which can lead to an explosion and fire.
Background
Flexible connectors are necessary when it is difficult
to use a rigid pipe to attach an appliance to a home's gas supply pipe.
Uncoated brass flexible connectors were first used in the late 1950's and
early 1960's. These connectors had a brass end fitting that was soldered
onto a corrugated brass tube. Over time, the solder could fail, causing
a leak between the end fitting and the tube. In addition, the corrugated
brass tube itself could corrode and crack, particularly when exposed to
ammonia and other household cleaners.
Since the 1970's, connectors have been manufactured in
one piece to eliminate solder failures. To prevent corrosion, connectors
are currently manufactured with plastic-coated brass or stainless steel.
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It is the customer’s responsibility to protect the service line and gas
meter serving their building. Gas meters must be protected from vehicular
damage. Property owners are responsible for installing protective bollards
to protect the gas meter serving their building, if the meter is susceptible
to vehicular damage. Call ENSTAR at 277-5551 for protective bollard design
information.
It is the customer’s responsibility to keep their gas meter clear from
ice and snow. Heavy ice and snow accumulation, especially from shoveling
roofs, can cause damage to gas meters or gas piping. Homeowners and emergency
workers must have access to the gas shut off valve in the event of an earthquake,
house fire or other emergency. Ice and snow accumulation on a gas meter
can cause gas leaks, and other operational problems which could result in
severe personal injury or property damage.
Other important safety tips include:
- Call before you dig. For locates call 278-3121 or
1-800-478-3121.
- Do not tie-up or leash pets to gas meters.
- Do not allow children to play on or near gas meters.
- Do not stack firewood or other materials around your
gas meter.
- Do not build a deck over a gas meter that restricts
access to the meter.
- Do not build any permanent structures such as additions,
garages, etc. over the service line serving your building. Call ENSTAR
to have the service line rerouted.
- Report all damage to ENSTAR’s facilities immediately
by calling ENSTAR’s 24 hour dispatch at 277-5551.
If you have questions about the service line or the gas
meter on your property, call
your nearest ENSTAR office.
Page updated:
Wednesday September 19, 2007
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