Gas Safety

In this section you will find information designed to help you use natural gas in the safest possible fashion. We value your business and encourage you to use the energy in your home in the safest possible fashion.

Is your home as safe as it can be? Here are some things to check:

Basement/Utility Room

• Have your heating and venting system cleaned and serviced regularly.
• Check your air filter monthly and clean or replace it when necessary.
• Never step, sit, lean or place a heavy object on appliance connectors.
• If the appliance connector on your range or dryer is made of uncoated brass, call your local plumbing or heating contractor to have it replaced.
• Always use a new appliance connector when you install a new appliance.
• If your natural gas meter is indoors, be sure you know where the shut-off valve is located.
• If you ever turn the gas off, never turn the valve back on. Call 1-800-652-0550 to have service restored.
• Teach children to keep toys and papers away from natural gas appliances and not to play near appliances.
• Keep paint, bleach, gasoline and other combustible materials away from natural gas appliances.

Kitchen

If you smell a gas odor, make sure all pilot lights are lit. If the odor persists, leave the house, opening doors and windows as you go. Do not operate any natural gas or electrical appliances, use the phone, or turn any light switches on or off. Call PPL Gas Utilities, Inc. from a neighbor's home or from a cellular phone outside the house.

• Never use a gas range, burners, oven or propane grill to heat your home.

Bedroom

• Install a carbon monoxide (CO) detector in the hall outside bedrooms to help protect against CO poisoning. CO poisoning claims the most lives while people sleep.
• Install smoke detectors on each floor, including one near bedrooms.
• Check smoke detectors monthly and replace batteries as needed - at least twice a year.

Garage

• Never start your car with the garage door closed, and never leave it running in the garage, even with the door open. Car exhaust is a common source of carbon monoxide.
• If you smell natural or propane gas, don't start your car.
• Never grill in the garage with the garage door closed. Grilling indoors can cause a buildup of CO.

Yard

• Be sure to keep your natural gas meter or propane tank accessible and free from snow and ice in winter.
• Know where the shut-off valve is located.
• Before you start any excavating projects, call Pennsylvania One Call at 1-800-242-1776 in Pennsylvania or Miss Utility at 1-800-257-7777 in Maryland. Utilities will come to mark their facilities with paint, tape or flags.
• Visit the American Gas Association Web site for more information.