Columbus, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—As temperatures are expected to drop significantly this weekend, Columbia Gas is offering tips to help customers stay safe and warm.
Inside Your Home
- Use space heaters with caution, placing them on hard, non-flammable surfaces away from furniture and flammable materials.
- Ensure appliances and heating equipment, such as furnaces, water heaters, and stoves, are inspected and operating properly.
- Never use a stove or oven as a heat source; they are designed to heat food and should only be operated with the door closed.
- Avoid burning charcoal or running a generator indoors or in enclosed spaces.
- Clean your chimney and check for blockage at least once a year before using your fireplace.
Outside Your Home
- Clear snow and ice from your intake and exhaust vents to avoid carbon monoxide buildup and operational issues with your appliances.
- Keep your meter visible at all times for maintenance or emergencies.
- Use a broom, not a shovel or hammer, to break up snow or ice on your meter.
- Be careful using a snow blower or plow near your meter.
Gas Leak or Carbon Monoxide Danger
- If you smell a “rotten egg” odor or suspect a gas leak, stop what you are doing, leave the area immediately, and call 911 and Columbia Gas at 800-344-4077.
- If you have concerns of CO buildup or if you are experiencing CO poisoning symptoms, get outside immediately and call 911.
For more winter weather and gas safety tips, visit the Columbia Gas website. If you’re struggling to pay your bill, reach out to Columbia Gas at 800-344-4077, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., to learn about payment plan options.