Natural gas safety

Natural gas is a colorless, odorless gas until we add mercaptan, a rotten egg odor to help detect leaks. If you smell natural gas or have a natural gas emergency, leave immediately and call 800-261-LEAK (5325) from another location.

Safety tips

Natural gas is safe when properly used. Follow these tips to prevent accidents:

  • Never use your oven or range as a space heater.
  • Have a qualified contractor inspect your furnace, vents, connections and chimneys for corrosion and blockages at least every other year.
  • Keep the area around your furnace and water heater clean and free from litter. Clean or replace air filters in your heating system annually.
  • Keep chimney flues and appliance vents clean and in good repair.
  • Vent gas space heaters to outside. Never sleep in a room with an unvented gas or kerosene heater.
  • Make sure your range top is clean. Wash burners with water and mild detergent.
  • Gas range flamed should be crisp, quiet and blue. Yellow flame indicates need for adjustment.
  • Make sure water heater air intakes, drain pipes, controls and flue are unobstructed.
  • Keep your gas meter free of debris, snow, ice and other obstructions at all times.

Piping

We maintain nearly 20,000 miles of natural gas pipe to keep our distribution system safe. Typically, we are responsible for buried natural gas pipes up to your meter. Maintenance of additional buried natural gas pipes on your property is your responsibility. Examples include pipes to mobile homes, detached garages, workshops, pools, spas and lighting.

According to federal rules, you are responsible to inspect buried piping on your property for leaks and corrosion. Any unsafe conditions must be repaired or removed. Follow these safety steps:

  • Dig by hand when excavating around natural gas piping.
  • Contact an underground locating contractor for help locating natural gas piping on your property.
  • Contact a qualified plumbing or heating contractor, for help with natural gas piping inspection and repair.

Appliance connections

Stay safe by having a qualified contractor check natural gas connections to your appliances every two years.

If you have uncoated brass connectors made more than 25 years ago, have a qualified contractor replace them immediately with newer, stainless steel connectors. The older connectors could crack and cause a natural gas leak.

Check connectors on all natural gas appliances you may have: furnace, stove, water heater, clothes dryer, outdoor grill or other. Note: Because the connectors are sensitive, be sure that these inspections are done by a qualified contractor. Do not attempt to move appliances or check connectors yourself.

Corrugated stainless steel tubing

Corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) is a flexible tube sometimes used to supply natural gas in homes and businesses. Used since 1990, CSST may have been used for natural gas piping in your home if you added a new natural gas appliance such as a stove or furnace.

Danger: Improperly bonded and grounded CSST can result in natural gas leaks or fires in buildings struck by lightning. Learn about our CSST policy requirements (PDF 1688k). CSST is often coated in yellow or black. Photo

Do not confuse CSST with natural gas appliance flexible connectors. Flexible connectors typically attach directly to natural gas appliances from a floor or wall appliance shut-off valve. CSST is typically routed beneath, through or along side floor joists in the basement, inside interior wall cavities and on top of ceiling joists in attic spaces.

Inspect: If you have CSST installed at your home or business, contact a licensed electrician to verify proper bonding. If not, the electrician can install the proper bonding. If you’re not sure if you have CSST, contact the company that installed the natural gas piping in your home or business and ask for an inspection.

Learn more: For information on a settled class action lawsuit with CSST manufacturers, visit CSST Settlement.