The Natural Gas:
Clean, Dependable, Safe
Due to its efficiency, cleanliness and reliability,
natural gas is growing increasingly popular. Americans rely on natural gas to cook their
food, dry their clothing, heat their homes and
fuel their businesses. Natural gas is a safe,
economical, efficient, clean-burning,
non-polluting and dependable source
of energy.
The natural gas industry has a proven record of
safety, but incidents can occur. Hazards include
blowing gas, line rupture, fire, explosion, or
possible asphyxiation. Because we care about
your safety, we work hard to keep our pipelines
safe. Our gas control and monitoring center
offices operate around the clock. We regularly
patrol and inspect our pipeline system. Our
employees are qualified under the U.S. Department of Transportation and are on call 24/7. We
spend millions of dollars each year in pipeline
replacements and upgrades. We work closely
with emergency responders to make them aware
of our pipelines and educate them on how to
respond in case of an emergency.
In the event of a natural gas emergency, Unitil’s
priority will be to protect Life first, then
property. We will immediately work to control
the situation. Our personnel will locate the site
of the emergency, notify Public Emergency
Responders and work to make affected area
safe. Then we will work with Public Safety
Officials to repair the facility and restore service
to customers. Lastly, we will investigate the
cause of the incident.
Pipelines have a proven record of safety. To learn more
about the safety record and safety procedures, visit:
Unitil - www.unitil.com
A summary of our Pipeline Integrity Management
program: http://www.unitil.com/sites/default/files/pdfs/
IMP_Summary-final.pdf
Federal Office of Pipeline Safety
www.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline
Always Call Dig Safe® 811 Before You Dig
Whether you are a homeowner, farmer, excavator or
contractor, don’t forget to include Dig Safe® in the
planning of your excavation. Damage from digging
activities is a leading cause of pipeline accidents, and we
need your help to prevent them!
Always call 811 at least three business days before you
dig. It’s free and it’s the law! Dig Safe® will contact the
participating utilities that have
underground facilities on your
property so they can mark
out the locations. Wait the
required amount of time – 72
business hours – and until
the marks are made before
you start your project.
Respect the marks, and
dig with care. If you dig
and expose, hit or touch
a pipeline, contact Unitil
immediately. If gas is
leaking also contact
911 or your local fire
department. Even
if it looks minor at
the time, a gouge,
scrape, scratch,
dent or crease to the
pipe or coating may
cause a future safety
problem.
Watch for Buried Gas Lines
Gas pipes from the meter to within your home or
business belong to the customer, who is responsible
for the maintenance and operation of those lines.
We recommend that customers periodically inspect
your pipelines for leaks and corrosion and repair
any unsafe conditions that are discovered during
the inspections.
What to do in Case of a Flood
In the event of a flood, turn off electrical power to
affected gas appliances. Then, shut off the natural gas
supply valve to the gas appliance (usually found on
the gas line to the appliance). Do not proceed with
any further work on the gas appliance until these steps
are taken. Contact Unitil or a Licensed Gas Technician
to restore gas service.
NATURAL GAS SAFETY
For Gas Emergencies:
Maine: 1-866-900-4460
Massachusetts: 1-888-301-7700
New Hampshire: 1-866-900-4115
Granite State Transmission: 1-800-323-4410
For Customer Service:
Maine: 1-866-933-3821
Massachusetts: 1-888-301-7700
New Hampshire: 1-866-933-3820
30384-I-0290
The Top Three Things You Need
to Know About Gas Leaks
Natural gas is odorless, colorless, tasteless. We odorize our natural gas with mercaptan, to give it a rotten
egg smell. Natural gas is also lighter than air, so if it
escapes, it rises into the air and dissipates quickly.
How to recognize a gas leak:
•You smell a rotten egg odor
•You see dirt or water being blown from ground
or waterways
•You see dying vegetation near a pipeline
•You see a dry or frozen spot on a pipeline
right of way
•You see fire coming from the ground or appearing to burn above the ground
•You hear a hissing, blowing or roaring sound
What to do if you suspect a leak:
Leave the area immediately and warn others to stay
away. From a safe place, contact the Unitil Gas Leak
line: MA: 866-542-3547, NH: 866-900-4115; ME: 866900-4460 or Granite State Transmission: 800-323-4410
What not to do if you suspect a leak:
•DO NOT use your cell phone or operate anything that could generate a spark, such as turning on a light, appliance, flashlight or power tool
•DO NOT use a lighter, match or candle
•DO NOT open exterior doors or windows in an
attempt to ventilate
Carbon Monoxide is Impossible
to See But Not to Prevent
Carbon monoxide is a silent, odorless gas that gives no
warning of its presence. Be alert for symptoms: flu-like
illness, headaches, nausea or vomiting, cherry red lips.
If you experience symptoms, open windows and doors
to get fresh air. Seek medical attention. Later, call
your fuel supplier or licensed heating contractor for an
emergency inspection.
Never operate internal combustion engines indoors;
never use a charcoal or gas grill indoors and have all fuel
burning appliances, flues, vents and chimneys checked
regularly. Most importantly, install and maintain carbon
monoxide detectors.
Old Appliance?
Check Your Gas Connector!
Gas connectors are corrugated metal tubes used to
connect appliances in your home to fuel gas supplies.
If your appliance is more than 20 years old, it may have
a brass connector that could come apart, causing
dangerous situations.
Connectors should always be replaced whenever an
appliance is moved or relocated. Any uncoated brass
connector should be replaced immediately. If you
can’t see the connector, don’t try to move the appliance
yourself to check it. Never try to replace a connector
yourself! Contact a qualified professional for help.
Natural Gas Keeps Your Home Clean
and Warm. You Can Keep it Safe.
Gas heaters and appliances are a clean, convenient, and
economical way to keep your home comfortable year
round. Keeping it safe is easy, too:
•Never hang objects from gas pipes or otherwise disturb the pipes that bring gas to your home
and appliances.
•Disconnected gas lines should be plugged
and sealed
•Gas appliances should always be professionally installed by a Licensed Technician , vented
and inspected. Never purchase or install a
used gas heater.
•Set your water heater to a safe temperature.
Before placing a child in a bathtub, check the
water temperature to be sure it’s not too hot.
•Do not store or use gasoline and other flammable liquids in the same room as gas appliances.
Ice and Snow Can Do Unexpected
Damage to Your Meters and Vents
Ice and snow can build up outside your home and cause
damage in unexpected places. Here’s how to make sure
your home stays safe this winter:
•Carefully remove ice and snow from meters or
appliance vent pipes with a broom.
•Do not shovel snow up against the
meter or vent pipe.
•Remove icicles from overhead eaves and gutters
so that dripping water doesn’t freeze the
meter or vent pipe.
•Install protection above your gas meter to
prevent ice and snow build up on the meter
and metering equipment.
•Do not kick your gas meter to break or clear ice.
Call Before You Clear Your
Sewer Line - Know What’s Inside
A blocked sewer line may be the result of another utility
line (gas, electric, telecommunications) accidentally
cross boring through a sewer line. A cross bore is an
unsafe intersection of two different utility lines. Do not
try to clear a blockage. It can result in a serious accident
. If you cannot see the cause of the sewer blockage, call
Dig Safe at 811 and request an emergency locate to get
utility lines in the area marked. If utility markings cross
the known path of the sewer line, it may be a cross bore
blockage If so, DO NOT attempt to clear the blockage.
Contact Unitil for assistance.
If You Have Stainless Steel
Tubing in Your Home, You May
Need to Protect Yourself
Corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) is a thin-walled
metallic tubing product, typically covered with yellow
exterior plastic coating, that can be used as an alternative
to gas piping materials or steel pipe routed beneath,
through and alongside floor joists,
inside interior wall cavities. If
your home uses corrugated
stainless steel tubing,
we recommend regular
inspections and installing
lightning protection because
CSST may pose a risk of
gas leaks and fire due to
lightning strikes.
Contact your
builder, contractor
or a licensed,
qualified
professional for
an evaluation
or for more
information.