Meter Maintenance During Snowy Weather
Your natural gas meter is designed and tested to work safely in various climate conditions. SoCalGas performs routine inspections on natural gas meters for our customers. However, there are times when external conditions or extreme weather can impact the operation or integrity of your meter. Here are some safety tips for keeping your natural gas meter safe.
Maintain Clear Surroundings
Year-round, keep the area in front of and around your natural gas meter clear. This includes bushes, clutter, debris, dirt, and other obstructions
Indoor Gas Meters
For indoor natural gas meters, ensure ventilation points are not obstructed, and any source of ignition or heat is at least three feet away from the meter.
Winter Care
During the winter months, if you can, and it is safe to do so, we encourage you to clear the snow away from your natural gas meter with a broom or brush – never use a shovel or hard object to remove the snow from the meter, as this risks damaging the meter.
Snow Removal Awareness
When removing snow from the roof or the roads, ensure it’s not falling or piling up near the gas meter.
More Winter Safety and Savings Tips
Save Energy with Natural Gas Appliance Safety & Savings Tips
Recognize a Natural Gas Leak
Be aware of signs you may see, hear or smell when there is a leak.
Look
If you see a damaged connection to a natural gas appliance, dirt/water blowing into the air, a dry patch of grass, fire or an explosion near a pipeline.
Listen
If you hear unusual sounds like hissing or whistling.
Smell
If you smell the distinctive odor[1] of natural gas.
[1] Some persons may not be able to smell the odor because they have a diminished sense of smell, olfactory fatigue (normal, temporary inability to distinguish an odor after prolonged exposure to it), a temporary loss of smell due to a respiratory illness or another physical condition, or because the odor is being masked or hidden by other odors that are present. In addition, certain pipeline and soil conditions can cause odor fade (the loss of odorant so that it is not detectable by smell).
What to Do If You Suspect a Natural Gas Leak
If you smell a natural gas odor, hear the hissing sound of gas escaping or see other signs of a leak:
Immediately Evacuate the Area.
Call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 from a safe location.
Call 911 promptly, from a safe location, if there is damage resulting in a natural gas leak that may endanger life, cause bodily harm or property damage.
DO NOT smoke or light a match, candle or create any other flame.
DO NOT turn electrical appliances or lights on or off, operate motorized equipment or vehicles, or use any device that could cause a spark.
DO NOT attempt to control the leak or repair a damaged pipe or meter. Natural gas leaking from a plastic pipe can create static electricity that can ignite the natural gas.