Winters in high snowfall areas can be of the magnificent, but they can also be the most challenging. The following safety tips should be followed to ensure the safe use of propane in your home or place of business and to ensure that your supply of propane is not disrupted.
HEAVY SNOW
1. Make sure that the vents from ALL gas appliances remain clear. Should snow cover a vent or bend or break the venting, gas fumes could become trapped in a home, which could cause potentially fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.
2. ALL PROPANE TANKS SHOULD BE KEPT FREE OF SNOW ACCUMULATION. The weight of the snow could eventually snap the gas line at the tank, which could release gas vapor into the surrounding snow. The gas could then find its way into a home resulting in serious consequences should a source of ignition be present.
3. ALL exposed gas lines, regulators and meters located directly along side the outside wall of a structure should also be cleared of any snow for reasons stated above.
4. BE ALERT TO SNOW BUILDUP ON ROOFTOPS and other ares. Frequently check where snow or ice collect on your roof, structure, or nearby trees and clear it if you believe it might fall on any part of your propane system. Never shovel snow off rooftops onto propane equipment. Heavy accumulation of snow or ice falling on tanks, regulators, meters, piping, or valves may cause damage that could result in a gas leak.
5. Customers should contact our office if you have any questions regarding your propane appliance or propane system
Northern New Mexico Gas Company
On call for emergency service 24/7
800-916-2510 or 575-447-3161
CLEAR DRIVEWAYS AND PATHWAYS TO PROPANE TANKS
Please remember that a propane delivery truck needs at least 10-foot-wide path to be able to deliver fuel to your home. Also keep the tank area and a path to the tank free of snow. When plowing, snow blowing or shoveling, please do not push or pile snow around your tank, meter, regulator, or piping.
Our Northern New Mexico Gas Company drivers are committed to keeping you safe. We check your propane tank and/or delivery on a monthly basis when you become a “keep full” customer. As the Homeowner, we count on you to keep your driveway snowplowed and clear, so we can make deliveries to your house in inclement weather and WE THANK YOU for that!
IF YOU SMELL PROPANE
Evacuate the building immediately – LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN
DO NOT TURN ON OR OFF ANY LIGHT SWITCHES, APPLIANCES, TELEPHONE OR CELL PHONE
If possible, turn off the main gas supply valve on your propane tank.
From a neighbor’s home or other nearby building away from the gas leak, call our NORTHERN NM GAS office at 800-916-2510 or 575-447-3161.
DO NOT RETURN TO THE BUILDING OR THE AREA until NORTHERN NEW MEXICO GAS has determined it is ok to do so.
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