Safety for Electric Customers

Safety for Water Customers

• Getting to Know Natural Gas

• The Silent Killer, Carbon Monoxide (CO)

• Dangerous Ice and Snow Buildup on Your Meter
• Disaster Preparedness and Natural Gas
• Pilot Lights
• Flexible Gas Connectors for Appliances
• Flammable Liquids Safety
• Turning Your Gas Off and On

• Natural Gas Appliances
• Carbon Monoxide Frequenty Asked Questions

Carbon Monoxide Safety

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas released from natural gas appliances, such as furnaces and hot water heaters.  With proper maintenance and inspection of these appliances, and by installing CO detectors on each level of your home, you can avoid dangerous or even deadly hazards associated with this gas.

If you or your family show signs of CO poisoning, such as headache, dizziness, or nausea, or if your CO detector goes off, contact OPU immediately and we will come to your residence, at no charge , to check for any unsafe levels of CO.

Visit www.cosafety.org for more information. 

Natural Gas Appliances

Ranges

• When lighting any match-lit burners or ovens, always light the match before turning on the gas. If the flame goes out, turn off the burner and let the gas disperse before relighting.
• Clean away any grease, oil or debris from the area around burners to help prevent fires.
• Keep baking soda nearby-a cheap and effective way to put out grease fires.
• Move any flammable objects-towels, curtains, calendars-away from range burners and other hot surface.

Ovens

Never use your oven to heat your home. This misuse of your oven puts you at risk of burns from hot surfaces and shortens the life of oven parts and controls.

Water Heaters

• Move all materials that can burn easily (mops, brooms, laundry, newspapers, gasoline, etc.) away from your water heater.

Furnaces and Space Heaters

• Your furnace should be serviced once a year to help maximize its life and performance. Follow the instructions in the owner's manual, or call a heating or plumbing contractor.
• Have your furnace checked for fire hazards such as a damaged firebox and any dislodged, clogged or rusted vents.
• Clean or replace your filter after each month of heavy usage.
• Replace the blower door cover after checking your filter.
• Securely fasten the door that covers the pilot light and burner area.

SECURELY CLOSED DOORS ARE CRITICAL TO SAFE OPERATION.

• Be sure that no burnable materials-paints, solvents, fuels-are stored near your furnace.
• Air-supply vents must be clear of obstructions. Furnaces need a constant supply of fresh air to run efficiently and safely.
• Kerosene heaters or other unvented heaters are not recommended.

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