Tips From Chattanooga Gas on Storm Preps
Appliance Safety
•Customers should never use natural gas appliances, such as ovens or the burners on a stove, to heat their homes or businesses.
•Residents should make sure their heating system, water heater and any other natural gas appliances are serviced and inspected annually by a qualified licensed professional.
•Chattanooga Gas customers are advised not to use any defective natural gas appliance until it has been inspected, serviced and determined to be safe by a qualified plumber or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) professional.
Carbon Monoxide Safety
•To ensure the safe, proper operation of natural gas appliances, such as a furnace and water heater, and to prevent a potentially hazardous buildup of carbon monoxide within your home or business, ensure that outdoor vent openings and air intakes are not obstructed by snow or ice.
•If customers smell natural gas or suspect carbon monoxide is present in their home or business, they should immediately leave the area and call 9-1-1 or 866-643-4170 from a safe location.
•Residents are encouraged to seek medical attention immediately if anyone in their home or business experiences possible symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, which include headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.
Meter Safety
•Customers are encouraged to know where to locate their natural gas meter is located.
•Exercise caution removing snow or ice from your natural gas meter assembly. Use your hands or a broom, not a shovel, to brush away snow or ice from your meter and regulator. Never kick or hit your gas meter or its piping with a hammer or any hard object to break away built-up snow or ice.
•Following a weather emergency, ensure the gas meter is visible and the area surrounding the meter is free of trash and debris. Mechanical equipment used after the storm to clean up a location may damage the meter if it is hidden.
•If a natural gas meter is damaged or gas line is exposed, immediately leave the area and call the Chattanooga Gas’ 24-hour emergency response number at 866-643-4170.
Detecting Gas Leaks
•If customers smell the rotten egg odor that is often associated with natural gas or suspect carbon monoxide is present, they should immediately leave the affected area and call the 24-hour emergency response line at 866-643-4170 from a safe location.
•Residents should never try to identify the source of a leak themselves.
•If the odor of natural gas is present, do not use a telephone or cellular phone, turn light switches on or off, operate any appliance or do anything that might cause a spark, such as lighting a match.
Damage Prevention
•Heavy snow and ice may weigh down power lines and tree limbs, causing them to fall. If a natural gas meter is damaged or gas line is exposed, immediately leave the area and call the 24-hour emergency response line, at 866-643-4170 from a safe location.
For more information and weather-related updates, visit www.chattanoogagas.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter @chattanoogagas.
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