As June is National Safety Month, Columbia Gas of Maryland is sharing an important reminder for its customers: when planning and carrying out home improvement projects that involve natural gas equipment and lines, don’t do it yourself (Don’t DIY).
“If you’re having a new natural gas stove, dryer, furnace or other appliance installed in your home, please don’t attempt to do this yourself,” said Mark Kempic, Columbia Gas of Maryland President and Chief Operating Officer. “Instead, we strongly encourage you to contact a qualified gas professional who can help, as they can safely perform work on natural gas lines and equipment inside your home.”
Columbia Gas of Maryland 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.
