Top Safety Tips for Natural Gas Homes

Natural gas is a safe, affordable energy source that’s efficient, reliable – and invisible. It may be out of sight, but there are a few things you should keep in mind to avoid accidental safety hazards. Take a tip from the experts with these at-home gas safety recommendations every natural gas user should know.

Avoid setting your thermostat too high when leaving for vacation during warmer months. It could lead to excessive humidity in the house, which can damage walls and cause mildew.

Keep your water heater set above 120°F to prevent bacteria growth and below 130°F to prevent scalding. If your tank’s settings don’t specify a temperature, you can check the hot water at the tap with a meat or candy thermometer.

Clean the lint trap of your clothes dryer after every load of laundry. It takes only five seconds, but can prevent a horrible fire. Clean the exhaust duct, vent and outside hood cover quarterly.

Have your gas appliances inspected annually by a licensed natural gas contractor to ensure you’re not at risk for a natural gas leak.

Always keep one multipurpose fire extinguisher in the kitchen.

Do not use natural gas ranges and stoves to heat your house. This can cause dangerous levels of carbon monoxide to build up in your home.

Blue is a calming color, and you have nothing to worry about if your gas stove produces a blue flame. If the flame is yellow or orange, the appliance needs cleaning or maintenance.

If your range or oven doesn’t have a pilot light and requires manual lighting, light the match FIRST, place it in the burner, and then turn on the gas.

Routinely clean your range and oven burners. Lining the oven in foil may keep it clean, but prevents proper ventilation. Plus, spills and accumulations on your range can become a fire hazard.

Don’t place rugs or furniture over heating vents. Blocking the air flow can cause fires.

While most natural gas burns blue, gas logs are cosmetically designed to burn orange and yellow to look like a wood burning fire. Make sure the fireplace damper is open to ensure proper ventilation.

Never store flammable products near your natural gas water heater. Aerosol cans, paint, solvents, household cleaners, pool chemicals, etc. can ignite when too close to natural gas. Keep the area around your hot water heater clear.

Never hang clothing or other objects from exposed piping in your utility room or basement.

Check and clean your furnace filter monthly. Replace your furnace filter every three months to keep it functioning properly.

In older appliances, brass fixtures may be used to connect the appliance to the gas supply. These can corrode or break and cause a gas leak. Instead, have a licensed professional install flexible natural gas connectors made of corrugated metal tubes.

Do not use gas grills inside. Carbon monoxide from the propane and smoke can build up to dangerous levels quickly.

If you’re planning on digging in your yard, call 811 first to make sure you don’t accidentally hit any natural gas lines.

Looking for more natural gas safety tips? Learn more about how to identify natural gas leak symptoms and what to do in a gas leak situation.