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Protect The Pipes: 3 Things You Need To Know About Your Natural Gas Lines

If you have natural gas appliances in your home, you might not think twice about the underground pipes that bring the gas into your home – but you should. Those underground pipes run through your yard and up into your home, providing pressurized natural gas to all of your gas appliances – including your water heater, stove, gas dryer and furnace. While most of the pipes are the responsibility of the gas company in your community, you do have some responsibilities for those pipes. Here's what you should know about the gas lines in your yard.

You're Responsible for the Lines Inside Your Home

The gas lines leading up to your home are maintained and repaired by your local gas company. However, the gas lines inside your home are your responsibility. That means that if you have a problem with any of your interior gas lines, you'll be responsible for their repair and maintenance.

To ensure your gas lines are working properly, you should have the gas company come out and inspect the lines whenever you suspect a problem – such as rotten egg odor coming from your stove or oven, or a hissing sound coming from any of your gas lines. These could be signs that you have a leak in one of your gas lines.

The Area Around Your Gas Meter Must Be Accessible

Gas entering your home runs through metered pipelines, which are used to monitor the flow and pressure of gas to homes and businesses in the area. When those metered pipelines need to be repaired, the meter at your home will need to be turned off for your safety. If there is a problem with your gas lines, the gas company needs to be able to access your meter as soon as possible. This means that you need to keep the area around the meter clear at all times.

You Need to Identify Before Digging

If you're going to be doing any construction or home improvement projects in your yard, you need to make sure you know where the gas lines are located. Once you've identified where the gas lines are, mark them so you know where it's safe to dig. Failure to mark the gas lines, may leave you financially responsible for any damages done to the underground gas lines. Not only that, but broken gas lines can jeopardize the safety of you and your neighbors.

Don't take chances with the natural gas flowing into your home. The information provided here will help you understand your responsibility for the gas lines in your yard and home. To learn more, speak with someone like Industrial Measurement & Control.