Heavy rain and high winds are forecasted for UGI’s service area Tuesday and Wednesday. With the potential of flooding and damaging wind conditions, UGI urges customers to be safe in dangerous weather. Always remember the following safety tips:
- An odorant that smells like rotten eggs is added to natural gas. If you detect that smell, leave your home immediately, taking everyone with you and leaving the door open. Do not use a phone, light a match, or switch anything on or off. Move at least 100 yards away, the length of a football field, where the odor is no longer present. Dial 911 or call UGI at 1-800-276-2722 from your cell phone or a neighbor’s phone. Always remember: smell gas, act fast!
- If you experience a power outage: never approach or touch a downed power line, always turn off all lights and unplug appliances, never use a gas-powered range or oven to heat a home, and always use flashlights instead of candles to prevent the risk of fire. To report power outages or downed power lines, call UGI at 1-800-276-2722.
- Prepare for possible power outages now by creating an emergency kit. Among the items to include are flashlights with fresh batteries, cell phones with portable chargers or power banks, a battery-powered radio, a first aid kit, and one gallon of water per person per day.
- Remember an electric outage will affect blowers and newer heaters with electronic ignitions. If your gas heater does not relight when the power returns, turn the unit off for a moment, then back on. If it still does not light, call a heating professional for service.
- Use caution when using space heaters and generators, which can be a source of carbon monoxide. Always follow manufacturer’s directions. Unvented heaters are designed for supplemental use only. Be sure to provide adequate ventilation. Do not use unvented heaters in bedrooms, bathrooms, or confined spaces. Never operate a generator indoors, in your garage or basement.
- If your home or business is affected by floodwater, never attempt to turn your gas supply on or off yourself. Submerged gas meters or regulators must be turned off and inspected by qualified utility personnel before service can be restored. If you are affected by flooding, contact UGI at 1-800-276-2722.
- If your natural gas water heater, house heater or other gas appliance has been submerged, most manufacturers recommend you have the appliance inspected and possibly replaced. UGI recommends calling a qualified plumbing and heating contractor for service. A list of qualified plumbers is available on the UGI website www.ugi.com/contractor.
Additional safety tips are available on UGI’s website at www.ugi.com/safety.
UGI Utilities is a natural gas and electric utility with headquarters in Denver, Pennsylvania. UGI serves more than 730,000 customers in 45 Pennsylvania counties and one county in Maryland. Customers and community members are invited to visit the UGI website at www.ugi.com; our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ugiutilities; or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ugi_utilities.