On Sunday, Nov. 1, the end of Daylight Saving Time in most states is an occasion to turn back the clocks and enjoy an extra hour of sleep. However, as the weather changes, the end of Daylight Saving Time is also a great opportunity to perform routine household checks that will keep your family safe and comfortable this winter. In most states served by Atmos Energy, customers are responsible for the maintenance and service of natural gas appliances and natural gas lines from the meter into their home. Therefore, inspecting a home’s natural gas piping and appliances along with maintaining other common alarms and detectors around the house are a few of the household tasks to complete as winter approaches. “Just as homeowners call electricians to inspect electrical wiring and plumbers to repair a leaky sink, this weekend serves as a convenient reminder to contact a licensed plumber or qualified contractor to inspect your natural gas lines and appliances,” says John McDill, Atmos Energy vice president of pipeline safety. “Our vision is to be the safest provider of natural gas services, so performing regular safety checks and operating appliances in accordance with manufacturer instructions can further promote safety.” Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas emitted any time fuel is burned in cars, trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, natural gas ranges, or furnaces, and it can be poisonous to humans if it builds up indoors. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends replacing your CO detector every five years, installing a battery-operated or battery back-up CO detector in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of a home. In addition, the CDC advises buying a detector with a digital readout to best detect the highest level of carbon monoxide concentration. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends these additional safety measures related to carbon monoxide safety:
For home safety tips and to learn more about customer-owned natural gas piping, please visit https://www.atmosenergy.com/safety/home-safety. For additional information about carbon monoxide safety, please visit https://www.atmosenergy.com/safety/carbon-monoxide-safety. Atmos Energy Corporation is the nation’s largest fully regulated, natural gas-only distributor of safe, clean, efficient and affordable energy. As part of our vision to be the safest provider of natural gas services, we are modernizing our business and our infrastructure while continuing to invest in safety, innovation, environmental sustainability and our communities. An S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas, Atmos Energy serves more than 3 million distribution customers in over 1,400 communities across eight states and manages proprietary pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas. Find them online at http://www.atmosenergy.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
