General Natural Gas Safety Guidelines
The following safety tips apply to all natural gas equipment in your home.Properly installed and maintained natural gas equipment burns safely, cleanly and efficiently. To help ensure your family's safety, have installations and regular maintenance of your natural gas equipment completed by a certified gas technician or heating contractor. A certified technician or heating contractor knows the technology and relevant codes that must be followed o perform those tasks safely. This applies to all natural gas equipments in your home.Have your natural gas equipment and exhaust venting systems inspected and serviced regularly by a licensed gas technician or heating contractor to ensure safe, efficient operation.When natural gas equipment is working properly, there is no odour. If you ever notice the smell of natural gas (somewhat like rotten eggs), do not ignore it.Natural gas equipment needs lots of fresh air for safe burning and venting of exhaust gases.If pilot light or burner flames of your furnace or other natural gas equipment look yellow, turn off the equipment and have it checked by licensed gas technician or heating contractor. The flames should appear blue or mostly blue with a tip of yellow. The only exception to this rule is modern natural gas fireplaces, designed with ceramic logs and realistic yellow flames.Keep the equipments area clean and do not store things on top of or next to the equipment. Do not cover the controls, air intakes or exhaust vents of any natural gas equipments.If you r equipment has a pilot light that must be relighted by hand, follow the relighting instructions provided in the owner's manual or on a plate or lable on the equipment.
What to do when you smell gas odour in your home ?
An odour that smells similar to rotten eggs is added to natural gas so that you can detect any gas that is escaping. If the smell seems very weak and is coming from one appliance :
- Call your gas distributor emergency number immediately: Call Enbridge Gas Distribution at 1-866-763-5427 or Union Gas Distribution at 1-877-969-0999
- Turn off the appliance and open windows and doors to let in fresh air.
If the smell is strong or if a hissing noise can be heard:
- Do not use phone, turn a light switch or appliance on or off, smoke or light any flame source.
- Get occupants and pets outdoors immediately.
- If possible, leave the door open to let in fresh air.
- Call your gas distributor emergency phone line.
- If escaping gas is burning, do not try to put out fire.Call 911 immediately.
