Columbus, OH – June is National Safety Month, and Columbia Gas of Ohio is sharing an important reminder with customers: when planning and carrying out home improvement projects that involve natural gas equipment and lines, don’t do it yourself (Don’t DIY)!
“Whether you need a natural gas appliance tune-up or to address a house line concern, please do not attempt to do it yourself,” said Columbia Gas of Ohio President and COO Robert Heidorn. “Qualified natural gas professionals across Ohio can identify and remediate natural gas concerns safely, keeping your home and loved ones secure while maintaining your peace of mind.”
Columbia Gas of Ohio owns and regularly inspects the gas lines up to your gas meter (service lines), including the meter itself. All lines from the meter into a home or business (house lines) are the responsibility of the customer.
What 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 equipment is properly vented and adjusted by a professional 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 with the appliance.
For more safety information on installing natural gas appliances and equipment, visit ColumbiaGasOhio.com/safety/home-safety/appliance-safety/safe-appliance-installation. To find a qualified natural gas contractor near you, please visit ColumbiaGasOhio.com/safety/find-a-contractor.
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About Columbia Gas of Ohio
Columbia Gas of Ohio delivers clean, dependable and efficient natural gas to approximately 1.5 million customers across the state. With headquarters in Columbus, it is the largest natural gas utility in Ohio. Columbia Gas of Ohio 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, and guided by our vision to be an innovative and trusted energy partner. More information about Columbia Gas of Ohio and NiSource, including its goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 2040, is available at www.ColumbiaGasOhio.com and www.NiSource.com.
