Winter Meter Safety

After a weekend of blustery weather and dropping temperatures, we can safely say winter is here to stay. UGI Utilities urges you to follow these winter weather meter safety tips:

• Keep your meter and its pressure regulator clear of snow and ice. Natural gas meters are designed to withstand cold weather, but the build-up of snow and ice can damage them and cause other safety issues. Allowing a large amount of snow to accumulate on your meter could lead to broken pipes and gas leaks. If a natural gas meter’s regulator vent becomes blocked, the pressure of gas flowing into the home could either increase to a dangerous level or decrease preventing natural gas from flowing to your natural gas appliances. As a reminder, UGI customers are responsible for the maintenance of all customer-owned piping beyond the meter. Learn more at https://www.ugi.com/blog/underground-pipe-safety-what-about-gas-lines-beyond-the-meter/.
• Always clear snow and ice carefully by hand with a broom or shovel. Never use a plow, snow blower, salt, hot water, or ice melting chemicals to remove snow or ice from your meter or pipes as you could cause damage to the meter. If you damage your meter, report it to UGI right away. If you smell gas around your meter, move the length of a football field away and call 911 or UGI immediately at 800-276-2722.
• Clear snow and ice from the roof above your meter to prevent falling snow or ice from damaging your meter.
• UGI personnel must be able to easily access your meter to perform routine maintenance and emergency tasks. If snow accumulates, carefully clear a safe path to access your meter.
• If your meter is near a sidewalk or driveway, make sure that it is visible to snowplow drivers.
• Smell gas? Act fast! UGI adds an odorant, which smells like rotten eggs, to natural gas to help you detect a gas leak. If you smell gas, evacuate immediately and get the length of a football field away. Once you are a safe distance away, call 911 or UGI at 800-276-2722.

Whether you have a gas meter or not, be sure to clear exterior vents regularly to ensure they are not blocked by snow or ice. If the vent is clogged, carbon monoxide (CO) could build up in your home and create a safety hazard. Signs that you may have a CO problem include: water vapor condensing on windows, headaches, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, and nausea. Be sure to install CO detectors on each floor and test the batteries regularly. If you suspect CO poisoning or are alerted by your CO detector, move everyone to fresh air immediately and call 911 or UGI at 800-276-2722.

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