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Appliance Safety
Furnace Clean and Check
Properly functioning natural gas appliances produce no harmful exhaust. One that is dirty, damaged or has an inadequate supply of air for combustion has the potential to create harmful gases like carbon monoxide. This can cause serious health problems and even be fatal. Symptoms from exposure are often the same as those from the flu. They can include headaches, nausea, coughing, dizziness, weakness or similar symptoms. See Carbon Monoxide Safety.
Most natural gas heating dealers have a program that assures a thorough furnace check. These include:
- Check vent pipes for cracks, leaks and sufficient venting
- Inspect internal components for excessive wear or damage and replace or repair as necessary
- Make proper internal adjustments for maximum efficiency
- Clean internal and external areas including the burner chamber, heat exchanger, vents, registers and thermostat
- Check venting for natural gas water heater
Contact your heating and water heating professional for more information.
SAFETY TIP: DO NOT use gas appliances such as an oven, range, or clothes dryer to heat the home.
Connectors
Gas connectors are corrugated metal tubes used to connect gas appliances in your home to natural gas supply pipes. Some older uncoated brass connectors may have a serious flaw in the end pieces and, over time, can separate from the tubing and cause a serious gas leak, explosion or fire.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, these uncoated connectors have not been made for 20 years, but many are still in use. Although not all uncoated connectors have this flaw, it is very difficult to tell which ones do.
Therefore, any uncoated brass connector should be replaced immediately with a new plastic-coated brass or stainless steel connector. Connectors can wear out from too much moving, bending or corrosion and should be replaced whenever the appliance is moved or relocated.
Warning: Only a qualified professional plumber, HVAC or appliance repair contractor should inspect and, if needed, replace your connector. Moving the appliance, even slightly, can cause the complete failure of one of these older, weakened connectors and possibly result in a deadly fire or explosion.
Pilot Lights
Many older gas appliances have a small, continuously burning gas flame, the pilot light, that ignites the main burner. Newer models have electric igniters.
- Know which, if any, of your appliances have a pilot light.
- Keep the manufacturer’s relighting instructions within easy reach or call a heating equipment professional if you are not sure how to relight the pilot light.
Responsibility For Gas Piping
The customer is responsible for the maintenance of all gas piping from the gas meter to all gas appliances. Buried gas piping that is not maintained is subject to potential hazards of corrosion and leakage.
For your safety, all buried gas piping should be periodically inspected for leaks. If the buried piping is metallic, it should also be periodically inspected for corrosion. If an unsafe condition is found, the gas piping will need to be promptly repaired by a qualified professional plumber, HVAC or appliance repair contractor.
When digging near buried gas piping, the piping must be located in advance and digging should be done by hand. Plumbing and heating contractors can assist in locating, inspecting and repairing customers’ buried pipelines.
Indiana law requires you to call at least two (2) full working days before you dig.
Ohio law requires you call at least 48 hours but no more than 10 working days (excluding weekends and legal holidays) before you dig.
For more information, go to Call before you dig page. |
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