Union Gas Limited

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a tasteless, colourless and odourless gas –
but far from harmless! CO is produced by any fuel-burning appliance
that’s not functioning or venting properly. Even at low levels of
exposure, CO can cause serious health problems.

Now that winter’s here, your furnace and fireplace are working hard
to keep your home warm. That’s why it’s important to take a few
simple precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones by
minimizing the risk of CO in your home.

Check your appliances:
Have a licensed HVAC contractor inspect and service your fuel-burning
appliances yearly, ideally before the cold weather sets in, to ensure
they’re in good working order.

Check the flue for blockage:
Have any obstructions such as nesting birds or creeping plants
removed from the flue area and have a guard fitted to stop any
birds from nesting. To be safe, have your contractor check the
flue to make sure it’s drawing properly and was fitted correctly
when it was first installed.

Get a CO alarm:
CO and smoke alarms save lives. Install CO and smoke alarms
according to the manufacturer’s instructions near bedrooms and
on every level of your home. Be sure to change the batteries every
spring and fall and check them regularly.

Gas-related emergencies:
Call 1 877 969-0999 toll-free for any gas-related emergencies or
to report an icing problem with your meter.

Visit uniongas.com/safety for more information about CO.

Clear The Way
For Safety

This time of year, it’s important to keep your natural gas
meter and the path leading to it free from ice and snow.
By doing so, you’ll ensure safe and ready access for
Union Gas personnel to take accurate meter reads and
do necessary inspections and repairs.

It’s also important to make sure the external vent pipes
from your natural gas furnace, fireplace, water heater
and clothes dryer are clear, too, so that your gas
appliances work properly and safely.

Here are a few quick tips that can help you keep your
natural gas meter accessible and safe:

• Use a broom or brush to gently remove snow from your meter
• Don’t scrape your meter with anything sharp and be
  careful not to bump it with a snow blower
• Don’t tie pets to your meter or gas pipes as
  they could break and become unsafe
• Make sure pets aren’t running loose or blocking
  access to your meter
• Don’t hang things from - or lean things on -
  your meter or pipes
• Don’t build structures, such as decks or porches,
  near your meter as this can create emergency
  access problems or water drip and freeze hazards

Please visit uniongas.com/contactus to let us know if:

• You’re having difficulty clearing ice and snow from
  your meter
• The structure and meter location problem can’t
  be avoided
• You’re expecting a problem with providing access
  to your meter, such as during home repairs

Union Gas is here to help!

PS - Did you know that you can submit a
meter read online? Visit uniongas.com/myaccount
to find out how!