Natural Gas Safety

IF A STRONG ODOR OF GAS IS PRESENT IN YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS, OR IF YOU HEAR A HISSING SOUND OF ESCAPING NATURAL GAS, FOLLOW THIS PROCEDURE:

• Get everyone out of the building immediately.

• Leave the door open.  

• Use a neighbor’s phone or cellular phone outside of the building to call Citizens Gas. 569-4457 or 346-7256  

• DO NOT use the telephone in the building. 

• DO NOT operate any electrical switches, appliance controls, or pull any plugs from outlets.  

• Close the cut-off valve near the gas meter and DO NOT turn it on again. (Citizens Gas’ representative will turn it back on.)  

• If possible, ventilate the building by opening doors and windows at top and bottom. Start where odor is strongest. DO NOT re-enter the building for this purpose.

IF YOU SMELL OR DETECT NATURAL GAS OUTSIDE, CALL CITIZENS GAS UTILITY DISTRICT IMMEDIATELY. (423) 569-4457, (423) 569-8289 or (423) 346-7256.

Carbon Monoxide Awareness

• Periodically inspected for leaks; 

• Periodically inspected for corrosion if the piping is metallic;  

• Repaired if any unsafe condition is discovered, or the flow of gas should be shut off; and when excavation is performed or is about to be performed near the buried gas piping, the piping should be located and marked in advance, and any excavating performed near the pipe should be done by hand.  If you have any questions or comments, please contact a representative of Citizens Gas. (423) 569-4457 or (423) 346-7256.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, non-visible gas that can be formed when fuels like charcoal, coal, gasoline, kerosene, natural gas, oil, propane or wood are burned without a sufficient supply of air. Carbon monoxide can be produced when appliances are not properly installed, maintained or used; when vent pipes become plugged with debris; when vent pipes have gaps, leaks, spaces and rust-through spots; and when appliances are improperly vented. (All vented appliances must be vented to the outside.)  

Exposure to carbon monoxide poisons the body and can cause collapse or even death. Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, and nausea. The best prevention for carbon monoxide problems is to have appliances installed properly and periodically inspected.

Flammables

DO NOT use or store flammable products such as gasoline, solvents, or adhesives in the same room or area near the water heater or any other gas appliance. 

Gas appliances such as water heaters installed in open garages must be installed eighteen inches (18″) above the level of the garage floor. This reduces the risk of gasoline or other flammable vapors being ignited by the main burner or pilot flame.

Water Heater Safety

WATER TEMPERATURES OVER 125 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WITH ANY TYPE OF WATER HEATER CAN CAUSE SEVERE BURNS INSTANTLY FROM SCALDS.  

Children, the disabled and the elderly are at the highest risk of being scalded. See instruction manual before setting temperature of water heater. Feel water before bathing or showering. Temperature limiting valves are available. See water heater owner’s manual.

Pipeline Safety  

Citizens Gas would like to remind you of the importance of having natural gas lines located, free of charge, before doing any digging. Each year accidental line breaks of natural gas pipelines and other utilities result in disruption of services, millions of dollars in damages, serious injuries, and sometimes loss of life. Don’t take chances……Call Before You Dig!  

Tennessee One Call Statewide Notification Service: 1-800-351-1111 or 811

All digging in the vicinity of piping should be carefully done by hand. This will avoid the inconvenience of disrupted service, personal injury and expensive repairs. 

Violation of the “Call before you Dig” Act is a Class A misdemeanor and subject to a fine up to $2,500 and/or imprisonment for 48 hours. If a gas main or service line is exposed during digging, call Citizens Gas. Proper attention to pipe that has been exposed will prevent problems later.

Customer Owned Lines  

Federal Regulation Number 192.16 requires that we notify you to exercise diligence regarding underground or buried gas piping. Buried pipe may be subject to leakage and/or corrosion (corrosion may occur on metallic pipe) and could potentially be subject to hazards if not maintained. Remember that any and all gas pipe downstream of the gas meter ( the “building” side) belongs to you, the gas customer, and the gas customer is responsible for maintenance and operation of this portion of the fuel line system. We do not own the gas beyond the meter; therefore we do not routinely maintain or locate fuel lines. Commercial plumbers and/ or heating contractors may be contacted when gas fuel lines need attention. 

Buried gas piping should be:

• Periodically inspected for leaks;  

• Periodically inspected for corrosion if the piping is metallic;  

• Repair if any unsafe condition is discovered, or the flow of gas should be shut off; and when excavation is performed or is about to be performed near the buried gas piping, the piping should be located and marked in advance, and any excavating performed near the pipe should be done by hand.  

If you have any questions or comments, please contact a representative of Citizens Gas  (423) 569-4457 or (423) 346-7256.