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National Grid Offers Important Information to Upstate New York Customers for Gas Leak and Carbon Monoxide Safety
National Grid Offers Important Information to Upstate New York Customers for Gas Leak and Carbon Monoxide Safety

March 3, 2009 —

With the winter season in full swing, National Grid reminds Upstate New York customers to use caution when clearing or plowing snow after a heavy storm to avoid covering or damaging natural gas lines, meters, regulators, and intake and exhaust vents for gas appliances.

Customers should keep the gas meter clear of snow and should be careful not to drop heavy rooftop snow onto any outside meter. Customers should also use care when shoveling or plowing near outside gas lines. Damage to any of this equipment could result in a natural gas leak.

As the winter months continue, National Grid would like to remind customers of what to do if they suspect a natural gas leak and how to avoid potentially deadly carbon monoxide.

Report Natural Gas Leaks

Like any fuel, natural gas is safe when used properly. In the interest of customer and public safety, National Grid crews continually test, repair and improve the underground system that delivers natural gas.

Despite best efforts, however, the possibility does exist for a gas leak in or near your home. National Grid adds a harmless substance called mercaptan that has a strong odor, similar to that of a rotten egg, to natural gas so you can tell if there’s a gas leak inside or near a building.

National Grid advises its Upstate New York customers who suspect a natural gas leak to take the following immediate actions:

  • Get Out - All occupants should leave the house immediately. Do not use the telephone, strike a match or switch lights or appliances on or off for any reason.
  • Call Us – After leaving the building and reaching a safe environment, call the Upstate New York National Grid 24-hour gas emergency number at 1-800-892-2345.
  • Stay Out - Do not go back inside the building until National Grid tells you it is safe.

  • Carbon Monoxide

    Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas that can be deadly if left undetected. It is the byproduct of the incomplete burning of fuels such as natural gas, butane, propane, wood, coal, heating oil, kerosene and gasoline.

    Common sources include malfunctioning forced-air furnaces, kerosene space heaters and natural gas ranges. Other sources include wood stoves, charcoal grills, motor vehicle engines, and fireplaces.

    During the heating season when windows and doors are tightly shut, fresh air is sealed out, allowing any carbon monoxide that may be present to build up over time.

    The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to those of the flu. Depending upon the amount of carbon monoxide in the air and length of exposure, symptoms may include headaches, weakness, confusion, chest tightness, skin redness, dizziness, nausea, sleepiness, fluttering of the heart or loss of muscle control.

    If you suspect carbon monoxide is present in your home, go outside immediately and breathe deeply. If symptoms are severe, get medical attention right away.

    Here are some tips to protect your family:

  • Arrange for an annual check of your heating system by a licensed professional heating contractor. If you haven’t had your heating system inspected yet, call now.
  • Check chimneys or flues for debris, bird nests or other blockages, and have them cleaned periodically.
  • Be sure space heaters and wood stoves are in good condition, have adequate ventilation and are used in strict compliance with manufacturer’s instructions.
  • NEVER use a gas range for heating, burn coal or charcoal in an enclosed space, or leave a car idling in a closed garage.
  • Consider installing a UL-listed home carbon monoxide detector.
  • Install back-up electricity generators outside. Open windows do not provide sufficient ventilation to safely operate a generator indoors.

    • For additional safety information, go to National Grid’s web site at www.nationalgridus.com.

    National Grid is an international energy delivery company. In the U.S., National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. National Grid also owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation that provides power to over one million LIPA customers.