The Shadow
June is National Safety Month; customers should contact a qualified gas professional for help
Chester, VA – Just in time for National Safety Month in June, Columbia Gas of Virginia is reminding its customers: do not do it yourself (DIY) when planning and carrying out home improvement projects that involve natural gas equipment and lines.
“Please don’t attempt to install new natural gas appliances such as a stove, dryer or furnace yourself, as this could present a serious safety hazard,” said Columbia Gas of Virginia President and Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Montague. “Instead, we strongly encourage customers to contact a qualified gas professional such as a natural gas-certified plumber who can help, as they can safely and properly perform work on natural gas lines and equipment inside your home.”
Columbia Gas of Virginia owns and regularly inspects the gas lines up to your gas meter, including the meter itself.
Here is more information to take into consideration when working with a qualified gas professional on home installations:
- Never install a furnace where someone sleeps.
- Contact a qualified professional if you notice any change with your appliances such as no heat or overheating from your furnace/boiler, a yellow flame or the presence of soot around a burner on your gas stove, or your furnace or hot water heater fan often kicking on and off.
- Make sure a qualified professional determines that the equipment is properly vented and adjusted, and that it has an adequate supply of fresh air for safe, efficient combustion.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe operation and care for your equipment.
- If you have flexible appliance connectors, do not reuse them — connectors should be replaced along with your appliance.
For more safety information on installing natural gas appliances and equipment, visit www.columbiagasva.com/
About Columbia Gas of Virginia
Columbia Gas of Virginia delivers clean, affordable and efficient natural gas to approximately 293,000 customers in 98 communities across the Commonwealth. With headquarters in Chesterfield County, it is one of six regulated utility companies of NiSource (NYSE: NI), one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States. NiSource employees are focused on our mission to deliver safe, reliable energy that drives value to our customers. More information about Columbia Gas of Virginia and NiSource, including our record of leadership in sustainability, investments in the communities we serve, and how we live our vision to be an innovative and trusted energy partner, is available at www.ColumbiaGasVA.com and www.NiSource.com.
