Natural Gas volume Safe yA publicnews service safety message from Cascade Natural Gas Corporation1 Natural gas is one of the safest and most reliable fuels available. We at Cascade Natural Gas Corporation want you to know how to use natural gas safely. We encourage everyone in your household to learn how to properly and safety operate and maintain your natural gas appliances to manufacturers’ instructions. If you have any questions or need help, experienced Cascade Natural Gas personnel can assist you.
CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) NATURAL GAS STINKS In its natural state, natural gas is odorless, colorless, and non- Natural gas is non-toxic and is toxic. So that it can be detected easily, Cascade injects an odorant the cleanest-burning fossil fuel into the gas before it goes into the CompanyÕs distribution sys- available. Under normal operating tem. The odorant is so highly concentrated that even trace conditions, natural gas burns amounts of natural gas can be detected. cleanly, producing heat, carbon Any odor of natural gas inside your home might indicate a dioxide, and water vapor. leak, so hereÕs what to do. If you suspect a natural gas If natural gas doesn’t burn leak in your home or business: properly or an appliance has a ¥ DONÕT use your telephone. This includes cellular mechanical problem, it could create phones, and all types of portable communication and electronic a hazard. Incomplete combustion of devices that have a battery. Even minute sparks can create a source of ignition. natural gas produces carbon ¥ DONÕT turn lights on or off, or operate ANY electrical switches, either on or off. This monoxide, which is an odorless, could spark and create a source of ignition. poisonous, and potentially fatal ¥ DONÕT light matches or create any other source of ignition. gas. Three indicators of incomplete ¥ DO OPEN windows and doors wide. combustion are a yellow flame (blue is normal), or combustion ¥ DO EVACUATE everyone from the building. odors, and/or visible soot around ¥ DO CALL Cascade Natural Gas from a phone away from the building. the front of the furnace or water STINKS (continues) heater. If your carbon monoxide detector YYourour NaturalNatural GasGas MeterMeter SetSet alarm goes off, check it for low batteries first. Don’t panic. You he natural gas meter outside your home is should be able to easily check the one of three components that make up T a meter set. All three batteries. However, if you or other work together to safely deliver and measure nat- ULATO members of the household feel short ural gas to your home. EG R R METER of breath, dizzy, nauseous, and The meter (far right ) accurately measures have headaches, you could be the amount of natural In an Emergency! suffering from carbon monoxide gas delivered to your home’s appliances. Locate the shutoff valve (below the reg- poisoning. You need to get fresh air Left of the meter is the ulator) on the riser pipe. You will need right away, or call 911 if your regulator. It ensures proper a crescent or pipe wrench to turn the natural gas pressure for the valve. When the valve head is parallel symptoms are serious. (Symptoms meter. to the riser pipe, it is in the open or ON position (see inset). are listed on the reverse.) Then call Another vital component of the meter set is the shut SHUTOFF off valve. It is located just below the regulator. VALVE To turn the valve off, turn the valve head one quarter turn us from a neighbor’s phone. Normally, if you must have your gas turned off, call (clockwise or counterclockwise) us and we will do it for you. However, in an emergency so that the valve head is cross- In the interest of safety, have your or if you smell or hear natural gas leaking, you may find wise to the pipe. This is the it necessary to turn off your gas supply immediately. closed or OFF position. gas appliances inspected regularly Follow the simple instructions on the right. by qualified service personnel.
Regular equipment checks can be WARNING: Once you have turned off the gas at the meter, leave it turned off. OFF Position Call your nearest Cascade Natural Gas office when you are ready for the gas to be turned the best prevention of possible ON Position back on. A qualified service mechanic will check your system, restore your service and relight carbon monoxide poisoning. your appliances. The phone number for your nearest Cascade office is printed on your bill.
Cascade Natural Gas Corporation ¥ We make warm neighbors Natural Gas
Safe yA publicnews service safety message from Cascade Natural Gas Corporation
VAPORS CAN IGNITE EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS Serious home accidents can be caused by If you believe you must shut off your gas flammable liquid vapors. Vapors from service after an earthquake, follow the instruc- flammable liquids such as gasoline, cleaning tions on the front page. You should only solvent, contact cement, and paint thinner need to turn off your gas if you smell natur- can ignite from an open flame, such as a al gas or hear it leaking. ONCE YOU HAVE THE GAS TURNED natural gas water heater or furnace pilot OFF, LEAVE IT OFF. Following a major emergency, increased work vol- light. umes may cause relighting delays. It could be days before a service mechanic can reach your home to restore service. Such delays can be These accidents usually occur in a garage uncomfortable during cold weather. or basement. Many flammable vapors are heavier than air. That is why building codes TAKE A FEW SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS require that appliancesÕ pilots, burners, Secure your natural gas water heater to a wall so it wonÕt fall over. Also, heating elements, and switches be installed at move flammable material away from any natural gas appliance. least 18 inches off the garage floor. In After an earthquake, check to be sure nothing flammable has fallen on or addition to the code, you should take these spilled near a natural gas appliance. If you detect a strong natural gas odor important precautions: or hear a hissing sound of natural gas, follow the natural gas turn-off ¥ NEVER use flammable liquids in instructions on the front page. confined areas. Flammable liquids must always be used in the open, well ventilated areas and away from any CALL BEFORE YOU DIG ignition source, including a pilot light or If you plan to dig or excavate, you are required by law to electronic ignition. notify owners of underground utilities two business ¥ Do not fill your lawn mower with days in advance. One telephone call to the One Call gasoline or use cleaning solvent near a Center will ensure that underground gas lines and natural gas appliance. Spills on concrete other member utilitiesÕ lines (power, cable, tele- floors can spread and vaporize quickly, phone and water) are marked before you dig. and create a potentially hazardous If you are planning a new addition to your situation. home, call Cascade to have your natural gas ¥ Store flammable liquids and solvent lines located before building or renovating, to soaked rags out of reach of children and prevent building directly over the gas lines. away from sources of ignition. Your safety depends upon it. The local One Call telephone number for your area is printed on your bill every month.
...STINKS (Continued from the front) If the odor of escaping gas is strong inside or outside your home, or if the flow of gas from a broken or disconnected gas line can be heard or a break is visible, follow the previous DOs and DONÕTs. MS Then TURN OFF the gas valve located at the MPTO G SY gas meter using a wrench or other suitable tool. NIN ERE OISO SSEVOF (See Your Natural Gas Meter Set on the front O P TOM NG C IUMMP ① NI MEDSY OUnconsciousnessISO page.) NOW DE P②Convulsions K ① OXI MILD MSevereON ➂Cardiac failure If the leaking gas ignites, do not attempt to put RBON headache ➃Death out the flames. Call the fire department and ①SlightCA headache ②Drowsiness ②Nausea 1) Feeling➂Confusion out of breath then Cascade Natural Gas. ➂Vomiting ➃Rapid heart rate ➃Fatigue ⑤ Flu-like symptoms
Natural Gas Safety News is a publication of Cascade Natural Gas Corporation ¥ An Equal Opportunity Employer 2-00/200M