UGI’s Storm Team is anticipating the potential for a plowable snow in some areas this weekend. The following safety tips can help customers stay safe and warm during winter weather:
- 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.
- If you experience a power outage: never approach or touch a downed power line, turn off all lights and unplug appliances, never use a gas-powered range or oven to heat a home, and 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.
- 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.
- Make sure appliance exhaust vents are clear of snow and ice. Blocked outside vents can lead to a dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness. If you think you might be experiencing these symptoms, immediately seek fresh air and medical attention.
- Clear snow and ice off your natural gas or electric meter by hand or with a broom, not with a shovel, snowplow, or snow blower. Always provide a clear path to your meter in case UGI personnel need access.
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.