East Bay Gas Lines - Help prevent a gas emergency in your home

Help prevent a gas emergency in your home with these safety tips:

• Natural gas lines should not be installed from the meter to any other buildings in which people live
• No building or other structure may be built over any natural gas pipeline
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions in operating and caring for natural gas appliances, and use each appliance for its intended purpose
• Never use gasoline or other flammable liquids indoors or in the same room or area as a gas appliance or other ignition source
• After a flood or other disaster, check for the odor of gas before entering any area. If gas is detected, leave the area immediately and call your local utility company. Replace any appliance submerged in water
• Ensure fuel-burning appliances are installed, used and maintained properly and safely. Hire a qualified technician to inspect heating and venting equipment annually, and use a carbon monoxide alarm that meets current standards.
• Use a broom to keep gas meters, pipes and other service equipment clear in winter. Gas-appliance chimneys and vents must be cleared after snow and ice storms to ensure proper venting and prevent carbon monoxide accumulation.
• Ensure gas space heaters are installed by a qualified professional and used and maintained properly
• Don’t use fuel lines for storage. Heavy coats or other items hanging from a fuel line (often located near the ceiling in basements) can stress the joints in the pipe and cause gas leaks. Don't allow children to swing on the pipes, either
• Set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees or lower. Check the water temperature before placing a child in the bathtub, and never leave a child alone or with other young children in the bathtub.
• Replace flexible connectors. Cracks can form and cause serious gas leaks in these flexible pipes that attach appliances to fuel lines. Limit the number of times you move natural gas appliances, and replace flexible connectors at least every 10 years with an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved model.

Source www.consumersenergy.com

www.eastbaygaslines.com