Safety Precautions

Appliance & Equipment Safety

Keep your natural gas appliances and/or equipment in good working condition by following these safety tips:

• Keep your natural gas appliances and equipment maintained and in good working order by having them cleaned and/or inspected for safety once a year by a certified natural gas contractor/HVAC technician. 
• Gas appliances should have proper air circulation at all times. 
• A gas flame should burn bright blue. A yellow or orange flame could indicate improper combustion or venting. Have your appliance checked by a certified contractor if you believe your system is not working properly. 
• Keep flammable or combustible items away from gas appliances and equipment. 
• Use natural gas equipment only for what it's designed to do. For example, you should never use a stove or oven for heating. 
• Buy only natural gas equipment that has the American Gas Association Blue Star Seal of Approval, which shows that the appliance meets strict safety standards.

Sewer Line Safety

When dealing with a sewer blockage, there is a remote, yet potentially hazardous condition that could be created when dealing with a sewer blockage.

Directional Boring and Cross Bores

Utilities use a trenchless technology called horizontal directional drilling (or directional boring) to pull cables, conduit and pipe underground. This installation method causes minimal impact to the surrounding area and minimizes environmental disruption. It also saves time, allowing utility crews to work more efficiently. There are instances when an underground sewer line is not properly identified prior to directional boring activities and it’s possible that a natural gas pipe can be inadvertently pulled through a sewer line. The resulting condition is known as a “cross bore.” Cross bores can go unnoticed for months or even years. They are typically discovered when it becomes necessary to clear a sewer line blockage.

If a natural gas pipe has been bored through the sewer line, the gas pipeline could be damaged, resulting in a loss of service and a potentially hazardous leak condition. If you are aware of the existence of a cross bore, call Nicor Gas at 888.642.6748 - report it as a natural gas emergency - and call 911.

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