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Protect
your meter during harsh winter weather
Your outdoor
natural gas meter and equipment are designed to withstand
winter weather conditions, but heavy or hard-packed snow and
ice, icicles falling from your eaves, or water dripping from
your roof and freezing on your meter can present a safety
hazard. To avoid problems customers are urged to follow some
basic tips:
1. Keep
your meter clear of snow and ice.
- Make
sure your meter is visible at all times and accessible for
maintenance and emergency responders (i.e. Columbia Gas
service personnel, meter readers and firefighters).
- Never
let snow completely cover your meter.
- Do
not shovel snow up against your meter.
- Take
care in using a snow blower or plow near your meter.
- NEVER
kick or hit the gas meter or its piping to break away built-up
snow or ice. If you feel there is a potential problem, call
Columbia Gas.
2. Keep
your eaves troughs clear.
- Icicles
hanging from your eaves trough, water dripping from your
roof, or freezing rain can create an icy build-up on your
gas meter and connections.
- Remove
icicles from overhangs.
- Protect
your meter from dripping water which would freeze on meter
piping.
3. Keep
air supply ducts and vents clear.
- Keep
vents unobstructed and free of debris - some direct vent
and high efficiency appliances have side wall vents and
air intakes that could become obstructed during heavy snow
fall.
- Gas
equipment requires air for safe combustion and venting of
appliances.
- Know
where your air supply ducts are and keep them free of snow
and ice.
- Check
that your chimney or roof vent is clear.
Why
is it so important to keep your meter clear?
- Accumulated
snow places stress on your meter piping - damage to the
piping can cause a gas leak.
- In
case of emergency, emergency response crews need clear access
to your meter.
- Blocked
regulator vents may result in abnormal pressure, affect
appliance operation, and interrupt service
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