Your natural gas meter is designed and tested to work safely in various climate conditions. SoCalGas performs routine inspections on natural gas meters for our customers. However, there are times when external conditions or extreme weather can impact the operation or integrity of your meter.
Here are some tips for keeping your natural gas meter safe.
Maintain Clear Surroundings
Keep the area in front of and around your natural gas meter clear year-round. This includes bushes, clutter, debris, dirt, and other obstructions.
Indoor Natural Gas Meters
For indoor natural gas meters, ensure that ventilation points are not obstructed and that any source of ignition or heat is at least three feet away from the meter.
Winter Meter Care
During the winter months, if you can and it is safe to do so, we encourage you to clear snow from your natural gas meter using a broom or brush. Never use a shovel or hard object, as this could damage the meter.
Snow Removal Awareness
Either remove snow or shelter your natural gas meter from snow accumulation. When clearing snow from roofs or roads, make sure it doesn’t fall or pile up near the meter.
More Winter Safety and Savings Tips
Recognize a Natural Gas Leak
Be aware of signs you may see, hear, or smell when there is a leak.
Look
If you see a damaged connection to a natural gas appliance, dirt/water blowing into the air, a dry patch of grass, fire or an explosion near a pipeline.
Listen
If you hear unusual sounds like hissing or whistling.
Smell
If you smell the distinctive odor[1] of natural gas.
[1] Some persons may not be able to smell the odor because they have a diminished sense of smell, olfactory fatigue (normal, temporary inability to distinguish an odor after prolonged exposure to it), a temporary loss of smell due to a respiratory illness or another physical condition, or because the odor is being masked or hidden by other odors that are present. In addition, certain pipeline and soil conditions can cause odor fade (the loss of odorant so that it is not detectable by smell).
What to Do if You Suspect a Natural Gas Leak
If you smell natural gas, suspect a leak, or damage has occurred, IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE THE AREA.
- CALL SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 from a safe location.
- CALL 911 promptly from a safe location if there is damage resulting in a natural gas leak that may endanger life, cause bodily harm, or damage property.
- DO NOT smoke, light a match or candle, or create any other flame.
- DO NOT turn electrical appliances or lights on or off, operate motorized equipment or vehicles, or use any device that could cause a spark.
- DO NOT attempt to control the leak or repair a damaged pipe or meter. Natural gas leaking from a plastic pipe can create static electricity, which may ignite the gas.
- REPORT any pipeline damage by calling SoCalGas immediately at 1-800-427-2200. Even a slight gouge, scrape, or dent to a pipeline may harm the integrity of the pipe or cause a dangerous leak in the future.