Natural Gas Safety & Information

Please refrain from keeping pets near outside meters and hanging garden hoses, etc. and planting bushes or plants on or near the meter set to prevent damage and allow access by the utility crew. When removing snow, contractors, residents and building owners should exercise caution. Snow removal equipment or falling ice can easily strike or damage gas facilities. Snow removed from driveways, walks, streets and parking lots should not be placed near a meter set, service regulator or other pipeline facility.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odorless, tasteless, invisible gas that can be formed when fuels like charcoal, coal, gasoline, kerosene, natural gas, propane or wood are burned without a sufficient supply of air.

An appliance could produce carbon monoxide if:

  • Boxes, laundry, or other materials are blocking the base, restricting air flow.
  • The vent hood, pipes or flues are blocked or corroded.
  • The unit is installed or adjusted improperly.
  • It's used incorrectly (i.e., heating a room with a gas stove or using a gas or charcoal grill indoors.)
  • The heat exchanger is cracked.

Natural gas furnaces and heating products such as fireplaces logs and space heaters should be inspected every year.  Other appliances, such as water heaters, clothes dryers, ranges and cook tops, should be checked for proper operation every other year.

Symptoms Mimic the Flu:
The early effects of CO poisoning mimic the flu, so watch for these warning signs:

  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness and disorientation
  • Muscle weakness or fatigue

If flu-like symptoms are NOT accompanied by a fever, or if everyone in the family is ill, or if the symptoms disappear when you leave the house, you may have a CO problem.  Prevention is the only way to deal with carbon monoxide, and the best prevention is regular inspection by a trained service technician.

The City of Fairfax is furnishing this information as part of their Public Awareness Program.

The Public Works non-emergency after-hours phone number is 507-221-7255.

Natural Gas Pipeline Awareness