Severe Weather Safety
When severe weather threatens your community, the well-trained professionals at Virginia Natural Gas are ready. Our employees participate in severe weather training that prepares them so that your home and business will have safe, reliable natural gas service.
Here's what you need to know:
During Severe Weather
Do not turn the natural gas off to your home or business, even if you are evacuated. Only Nicor Gas or emergency personnel should turn the valve off.
If You Smell Gas
Immediately leave the affected area and call 911 or the 24-hour emergency response line, from a safe location.
Gas Meter Damage
If a storm has damaged your gas meter by fallen debris, is under water or you do not have gas service, immediately report it by calling 911. Then call our 24-hour emergency response line.
24-hour emergency response line, 000.000.0000
No Power? NoProblem.
When severe weather hits and you lose power for days or even weeks, many natural gas appliances like water heaters and ranges still work. And for the best defense against power outages, we recommend a natural gas generator. Fueled continually by natural gas, most generators are fully automatic. Within seconds of an outage, the unit comes on, supplies power, and switches off when power returns.
Before A Storm
Losing natural gas service during severe weather and power outages is rare because pipe infrastructure is below ground. However, there are several safety precautions customers should take to keep you and your community safe.
Know the location of your natural gas meter.
Leave gas meters on in homes and business to maintain proper pipe pressure to prevent water from entering if flooding occurs. Most gas appliances have safety valves that shut off the flow of gas automatically if the pilot light goes out. If necessary, only (name) Natural Gas or emergency personnel should turn the valve off.
Unplug natural gas appliances to avoid possible electrical damage if severe lightning is predicted.
During & After A Storm
If flooding occurs at a residence or business and the gas appliances are or have been submerged under water, do not try to operate the appliances.
Dial 811 before digging if any clean up and repair are necessary. This also includes removing downed trees as they can become entangled with natural gas lines.
The gas meter must be visible and the area surrounding the meter free of trash and debris. Mechanical equipment used after the storm to clean up a location may damage an unseen meter.
Damage to natural gas meters or exposed gas lines are dangerous, immediately leave the area and call our 24-hour emergency response number at 877.572.3342.
If your gas service was interrupted as a result of a severe storm, restoration time depends on when water recedes in flooded areas, homes and businesses are free of standing water, and when Nicor Gas personnel can safely enter.
Cold Weather Safety
Our highest priority is the safety of our customers and communities. When severe winter weather events occur especially with snow and ice, we strongly advise customers to adhere to our winter guidelines associated with natural gas meter and appliance venting safety.
Cold Weather Tips & Guidelines:
Appliance Safety
Never use natural gas appliances, such as ovens or the burners on a stove, to heat your homes or businesses.
Make sure your heating system, water heater and any other natural gas appliances are serviced and inspected annually by a qualified licensed professional.
Do not use any defective natural gas appliance until it has been inspected, serviced and determined to be safe by a qualified plumber or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) professional.
Generators
Winter weather increases the likelihood of power outages. The safest way to supply backup power to your property during an electrical outage is with a natural gas standby generator. Different from portable generators that run on gasoline, natural gas standby or stationary generators operate automatically and can run indefinitely.
Have your standby generator installed by a qualified contractor to ensure all building codes are followed. To locate a contractor, use our Find A Contractor tool.
Work with your contractor or dealer to size the standby generator correctly to avoid overloads or inadequate power supply. Most dealers have online calculators on their websites.
Read through the owner’s manual to be familiar with your product’s warnings and directions.
Stationary standby generators have weatherproof housing to operate safely outdoors, while portable generators can pose risks of electric shock or fire, especially when operated in wet conditions.
Make sure your hands are dry before touching a generator. NEVER try to power the house wiring by plugging a portable generator into a wall outlet, a practice known as “backfeeding.”
Generators should run only outdoors in an area with plenty of ventilation, away from windows, doors and vents, never inside a home or garage. Keep children and pets away from generators.
Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Safety
Smoke and CO alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
Carbon monoxide gas is colorless, odorless and tasteless. Keep your home safe by installing a CO detector on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms.
To ensure the safe, proper operation of natural gas appliances, such as a furnace or water heater, and to prevent the potentially hazardous buildup of carbon monoxide within your home or business, ensure that outdoor vent openings and air intakes are not obstructed by snow or ice.
If you smell natural gas or suspect carbon monoxide is present in your home or business, immediately leave the area and call 911 or our emergency number, 877.572.3342, from a safe location.
Seek medical attention immediately if anyone in your home or business experiences possible symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.
Meter & Vent Safety
Know where your natural gas meter is located and ensure that it is visable.
If you have a high-efficiency furnace, power-vented water heater or other natural gas appliances that vent out the side of your home, remember to keep the vent pipe clear of ice and snow.
Exercise caution removing snow or ice from your natural gas vent or meter assembly. Use your hands or a broom, not a shovel, hammer or any hard object to break away built-up snow or ice. Tools can damage the equipment. Never kick or hit your gas meter or its piping.
Never shovel snow up against your meter or vent or let excessive snow cover it.
Detecting Gas Leaks
If you smell the rotten egg odor that is often associated with natural gas or suspect carbon monoxide is present, immediately leave the affected area and call 911 or the 24-hour emergency response line, 877.572.3342, from a safe location.
Never try to identify the source of a leak yourself.
If the odor of natural gas is present, do not use a telephone or cellphone in the area of the odor. Do not turn light switches on or off. Do not operate any appliance or do anything that might cause a spark, such as lighting a match.
Damage Prevention
Heavy snow and ice may weigh down power lines and tree limbs, causing them to fall. If a natural gas meter is damaged or underground gas line is exposed, immediately leave the area and call 911 or the 24-hour emergency response line, 877.572.3342, from a safe location.
Remove hanging icicles to prevent dripping water from refreezing on your meter or vent.
Warm Weather Safety
We value the safety of our customers and communities. During the warmer months when severe weather events occur, we strongly advise customers to adhere to the summer guidelines associated with natural gas meters and appliances.
Warm Weather Tips & Guidelines:
Appliance Safety
July is the peak month for grilling fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. A stationery natural gas grill can help avoid the safety worries associated with portable grills. When grilling this summer, take the following safety precautions.
Use a certified natural gas contractor to ensure your natural gas line and grill connection are installed properly and according to building codes. To locate a certified contractor, use our Find A Contractor tool.
All grills need proper venting and distancing. Position your grill at least 10 feet from flammable objects such as siding, eaves, ceilings, porch rails, overhanging branches or decorative objects.
When purchasing a grill, be sure to shop for the right type, since stationary natural gas and portable propane grills have different connection equipment.
Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area.
Keep your grill clean, removing grease buildup from the grills and the trays below.
Make sure your grill lid is open before lighting it.
Never leave a hot grill unattended, especially after you’ve finished cooking and you’ve turned up the grill to burn off any remnants.
When a grill is not being used, turn off all the burner control knobs including the side burner, then if using a natural gas grill, turn off the shut-off valve on your natural gas supply line.
Generators
Hurricane season runs from June to November, increasing the likelihood of power outages, especially in southern and eastern coastal states, while tornadoes or other summer severe weather can strike anywhere in the U.S. The safest way to supply backup power to your property during an electrical outage is with a natural gas standby generator. Different from portable generators that run on gasoline, natural gas standby or stationary generators operate automatically and can run indefinitely.
Have your standby generator installed by a qualified contractor to ensure all building codes are followed. To locate a contractor, use our Find A Contractor tool.
Work with your contractor or dealer to size the standby generator correctly to avoid overloads or inadequate power supply. Most dealers have online calculators on their websites.
Read through the owner’s manual to be familiar with your product’s warnings and directions.
Stationary standby generators have weatherproof housing to operate safely outdoors, while portable generators can pose risks of electric shock or fire, especially when operated in wet conditions.
Make sure your hands are dry before touching a generator. NEVER try to power the house wiring by plugging a portable generator into a wall outlet, a practice known as “backfeeding.”
Generators should run only outdoors in an area with plenty of ventilation, away from windows, doors and vents, never inside a home or garage. Keep children and pets away from generators.
Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Safety
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
Keep your home safe by installing a CO detector on each level of your home, near bedrooms.
If you smell natural gas or suspect carbon monoxide is present in your home or business, immediately leave the area and call 911 or Nicor Gas' emergency number, 888.Nicor4U (888.642.6748), from a safe location.
Seek medical attention immediately if anyone in your home or business experiences possible symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, which include headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.
Meter & Vent Safety
Redundant copy, no snow in summer
Know where your natural gas meter is located.
Following a weather emergency, ensure the gas meter is visible and the area surrounding the meter is free of trash and debris.
Mechanical equipment used after the storm to clean up a location may damage the meter if it is hidden.
Exercise caution removing snow or ice from your natural gas meter assembly. Use your hands or a broom, not a shovel, to brush away snow or ice from your meter and regulator. Never kick or hit your gas meter or its piping with a hammer or any hard object to break away built-up snow or ice.
If a natural gas meter is damaged or underground gas line is exposed, immediately leave the area and call 9-1-1 or our 24-hour emergency response number 888.Nicor4U (642.6748) from a safe location.
Detecting Gas Leaks
This is important and should sit at the top of the page.
If you smell the rotten egg odor that is often associated with natural gas or suspect carbon monoxide is present, immediately leave the affected area and call 911 or the 24-hour emergency response line, 877.572.3342, from a safe location.
Never try to identify the source of a leak yourself.
If the odor of natural gas is present, do not use a telephone or cellphone in the area of the odor. Do not turn light switches on or off.
Do not operate any appliance or do anything that might cause a spark, such as lighting a match.
Damage Prevention
Severe weather, such as hurricanes or tornadoes, may damage power lines and tree limbs, causing them to fall. If a natural gas meter is damaged or underground gas line is exposed, immediately leave the area and call 911 or the 24-hour emergency response line 888.Nicor4U (642.6748) from a safe location.
Energy Efficiency
At (name) gas we are always looking for new ways to reduce costs and drive efficiencies to save money for our customers. Energy efficiency tools and resources give our customers more control over their energy consumption and saves on their energy bill.
Little changes can add up to big savings with these weatherization tips:
Change air filters
Most air and furnace filters should regularly be cleaned or replaced every 60-90 days. A clean filter will allow the system to run more efficiently.
Open or close window coverings
In winter weather open window coverings during the day to allow sunlight to heat your home naturally, and close curtains at night to reduce chill. In hotter weather close the coverings during the day to keep the suns heat out.
Adjust timer controls and thermostats
Set temperature to 78 degrees or lower in colder weather and 68 degrees or lower in hotter weather. Some older thermostats may not have an internal clock and need to be adjusted manually.
Insulate doors and windows
Caulk and weather-strip drafty doors and windows. In colder months use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of window frames to stop drafts.
