Carbon Monoxide Detector Review

If you have gas or propane heat, you should also have a carbon monoxide detector.  Read more…

Short cuts can be dangerous

Are you having trouble heating your home? Taking a short cut may be dangerous.

While fireplaces and space heaters help keep home heating costs down, the recent jump in fire claims caused by these devices highlight how costly they can be if installed incorrectly or not used properly,” said Bill Windsor, safety officer for the insurance company. There has been a 16 percent increase in the number of fire claims filed with the company that involve wood-burning fireplaces.

Read more…

What should you do when you smell natural gas?

If you have natural gas heating, you may have concerns and questions. Do you know what to do if you smell gas?

Natural gas in its pure form is colorless and odorless. A chemical, called mercaptan, is added to give natural gas a distinctive odor – similar to that of rotten eggs – so you can smell a leak immediately and take action. A faint odor of gas may mean that a pilot light has gone out and should be re-lit. Typically you will smell this odor long before the situation becomes dangerous; however, you should take precautions if you have any concerns. A strong odor means you should leave your home at once taking the following steps:

• DO NOT use a telephone.
• DO NOT switch a light on or off.
• DO NOT light a match or use a flashlight.

Go to a neighbor’s house or a safe distance away where there is no natural gas odor and call your natural gas provider.