NIPSCO Public Safety Tips
Call before you dig - it's the law!
By law, anyone planning to excavate is required to call Indiana 811 at 811 at least two full working days before work begins. Whether you're planning an excavation as part of a landscaping project or building a deck or addition to your home, avoid property damage, personal injury, and possible fines by contacting the one-call notification service before you start to dig. The service will notify all utilities to mark the approximate location of underground service lines that might be in the construction area at no cost to residential customers. If you damage a natural gas pipeline while digging, you endanger your safety and the safety of others. You may also be responsible for repairs.
If you have contractors performing work for you, make sure they call the one-call system before starting work, too. The number one cause of natural gas pipeline damage is from third parties digging near underground facilities.
Household wiring and appliances
- Make sure your hands and feet are dry when using electric appliances. Never use electric appliances in a bathtub, shower or around a sink.
- Know where your fuse box or circuit breaker is and how to operate it.
- Unless you're qualified, get expert help with wiring improvements in your home or office.
- Use plastic caps in outlets when not in use to protect small children.
- Teach your children about electrical safety.
- Make sure plugs and prongs are not loose or worn.
- Check electrical cords for fraying or nicks.
- Never yank the appliance cord from the electric outlet.
- Be careful not to risk overloading wall outlets with adapters.
- If one appliance repeatedly blows a fuse or trips a circuit breaker, or if it has emitted an electric shock, unplug it and have it repaired or replaced.
Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) can prevent many electrocutions. GFCIs are devices commonly installed in kitchen and bathroom outlets, and should be used in any area where water and electricity may come into contact.
Downed Power Lines
- Never touch a fallen electric power wire.
- If a power line is down, call NIPSCO as soon as possible at 1-800-464-7726.
- Don't touch the line or use any object to move the line - always assume it is live.
- If you see someone touching a downed line, call 911. Don't try to rescue them yourself.
If a power line falls on your car while you are in it, remain in your car and wait for help. You'll be safe as long as you remain inside. If you MUST exit the car, jump away from it, being careful not to touch the car and the ground at the same time.
Carbon monoxide (CO) information
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, non-corrosive gas made up of one part carbon and one part oxygen. It can be a by-product of the combustion of ordinary fuels. CO is relatively harmless in open spaces, but very poisonous if allowed to accumulate. A malfunctioning appliance can create a hazard.
Be alert to the dangers of carbon monoxide
Whenever combustion takes place without sufficient oxygen, carbon monoxide is produced. Since less fresh air is entering homes today due to conservation measures, it's doubly important to be alert to the dangers of improper venting.
Carbon monoxide isn't in natural gas. It can be produced if natural gas doesn't burn and vent properly. Carbon monoxide is also produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned. This can happen if your gas appliance or fuel-burning device isn't properly maintained or adjusted. If appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous. Other CO sources include vehicle exhaust, blocked chimney flues, fuel-burning cooking appliances used improperly for heating purposes, and charcoal grills used in the home, tent, camper, garage or other unventilated area.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide may cause any or all of the following symptoms -- headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, irregular breathing, rapid heartbeat, ringing in the ears, seeing spots, fatigue, confusion, memory loss, loss of coordination, blurred vision, feeling ill or tired at home but fine when away from home, loss of consciousness, coma and eventually seizures, cardiac arrest and respiratory failure.
Other household symptoms include stuffy, foul-smelling or stale air, the smell of exhaust fumes, a yellow/orange flame on gas ranges, furnace or water heater burners, soot around outside of chimney, furnace or water heater flue vent or fireplace and large areas of condensation of water vapor on walls or windows.
What to do
Your gas furnace and water heating equipment should be serviced regularly to ensure they are working properly, efficiently and safely. This includes proper venting of exhaust gases. In a tightly sealed home, you may need to install fresh air inlets and exhaust fans to supply the circulation needed for combustion. Carbon monoxide detectors, available at numerous hardware, home and variety stores, are just as important as smoke detectors. But they are not foolproof, so the choice is up to you. Know how to prevent carbon monoxide.
Follow these simple guidelines if you think you have a carbon monoxide problem in your home.
- Leave the area and call... if your detector alarm sounds and you are experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, leave your home and immediately call your local emergency services number or 911.
- If you have no symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning… and your detector alarm sounds first check the detector. Push the reset button (if available), turn off any appliances or other sources of combustion. Get fresh air to the building and check for sources of carbon monoxide. Adjust, repair or replace your appliances as needed by calling a qualified service or repair company
- Always call ... if you think you have symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and you do not have a detector, leave your home and immediately call your local emergency services number or 911.
Preventive measures and safety tips
- Purchase carbon monoxide detectors.
- Be sure all fuel-burning equipment is installed, adjusted and operating properly.
- Have appliances installed by a professional, and carefully follow manufacturer instructions.
- Do not cut off or restrict combustion air sources to appliances.
- Equipment should be inspected regularly by a professional heating or appliance contractor.
- Provide adequate ventilation in the house when using stoves, fireplaces or unvented space heaters.
- Never burn charcoal indoors or in an enclosed space.
- Clean chimney and check for blockage, especially with wood burning fireplaces and stoves.
- Open garage door before starting vehicle.
What is mercaptan?
Natural gas is one of the safest, most efficient and most reliable forms of energy available. But, like any energy source, natural gas must be used properly. Since natural gas is colorless and odorless, we add a harmless, non-toxic chemical that makes it easier to detect a gas leak before it can create a hazardous situation. The chemical, called mercaptan, smells a lot like rotten eggs. If you aren't familiar with it, call NIPSCO DirectLink at 1-800-464-7726 and ask for a "scratch-n-sniff" card that provides you with a sample of the odor.
In a concentrated form, the smell is almost unbearable. And it takes only a few parts per million of mercaptan to give natural gas a smell. That is precisely why we add it to natural gas. If we did not add mercaptan, it would be hard for you to know that unlit natural gas was coming from your stove after you left the valve turned on. And leaks from furnaces and hot water heaters would be nearly impossible to detect without expensive equipment. So mercaptan's smell is a very valuable safety feature.
Mercaptan contains sulfur. That's what makes it smell. The kind we use blends well with natural gas and, in a gaseous state, has much the same properties as natural gas, so it will also rise and dissipate with natural gas.
There are other uses for mercaptan in industry, including jet fuel, pharmaceuticals and livestock feed additives. It is used in many chemical plants. Mercaptan is less corrosive and less toxic than similar sulfur compounds found naturally in rotten eggs, onions, garlic, skunks, and, of course, bad breath. In other words, forms of mercaptan can be found in things that smell.
Unauthorized use of energy is unsafe - and illegal!
People who turn valves that only NIPSCO should operate, or who install unauthorized connections to divert energy around meters and into their home or business are not only breaking the law - they're also endangering property and lives. Tampering with a gas meter or natural gas line could cause property damage and fatal injury from asphyxiation, explosion, or fire. In other cases of unauthorized use, customers might use natural gas service not knowing that service was never placed in their name.
Unauthorized use of energy affects all customers through higher costs. Each year, usage without our knowledge, or meters that have been bypassed or tampered with result in the loss of billions of dollars worth of lost energy. That can mean higher prices for trusted customers as utilities try to recover revenue for energy that was used but never reported.
If you suspect someone might have tampered with a meter or might otherwise be using natural gas without our knowledge, please call us at 1-800-464-7726. We'll keep your name and all information confidential. Your call can help protect property and lives. Offenders who have intentionally tampered with their natural gas service will be prosecuted to the limit of the law, including fines and possible imprisonment.
Be alert to suspicious activity
Sometimes our service technicians need to enter your home to read your meter or to perform safety services. If one of our employees comes to your home unannounced, it is most likely to notify you of work in the area that might affect your natural gas service, meter problems, or possible danger.
Be alert to people who try to pass themselves off as gas company personnel or who claim to offer a NIPSCO refund. NIPSCO employees NEVER deliver cash refunds or "rebates" to customers' homes -- all account transactions are handled electronically or through the mail.
Our employees and contractors carry photo identification and will gladly show it upon request. Ask to see it before allowing anyone who claims to be a utility representative into your home. If you are still unsure after seeing the ID, please call us to confirm that the person at your door is one of our employees or contractors. Be sure to report any suspicious activity to the police.
Most NIPSCO employees drive clearly marked vehicles that are easy to identify, too.
If you live or work in an area near our natural gas transmission or service lines, we encourage you to take an active role in helping us keep our pipelines safe, too. Besides being aware of signs of a gas leak or digging along pipeline rights of way, please be alert to suspicious individuals or activities around our pipelines and contact police.
Visit www.phmsa.dot.gov for more information about the location of natural gas pipelines in your area.
Appliance safety and maintenance
Your appliances are made with the highest quality and safety standards. They can add warmth, security and comfort to your home or business. To insure that your home is always a safe home, we urge customers to become educated consumers. This process begins when you prepare to purchase your new appliance and continues when you use energy-saving tips.
When purchasing new appliances, you are faced with a number of difficult decisions. Some of these decisions involve which brand is best, how much energy will the appliance use, and will purchasing a higher priced model that provides better efficiency save money in the long run. Once you have made the choice, learn how to increase their longevity and performance through appliance safety. Before you purchase your next appliance, learn to read EnergyGuide labels.
To ensure the safety and efficiency of your new appliances, follow some rules of thumb:
- When purchasing a new appliance, look for those that are designed to meet safety standards. Check the label for certification. This is your assurance that the equipment is designed to meet national safety standards.
- Have qualified professionals install appliances to make sure they're properly connected. Never attempt this yourself!
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions for operation and care of your equipment.
- Call a professional if there is any irregularity with your appliance, like overheating or the presence of soot around a burner.
- Make sure a plumber or contractor determines that the equipment is properly vented and adjusted, and that it has an adequate supply of fresh air for safe, efficient combustion.
Pay attention to your natural gas appliances
Natural gas problems like leaks or a presence of carbon monoxide can be avoided if you make sure your appliances are serviced regularly. Here are a few safety tips to help you use the natural gas appliances in your home safely.
- Follow manufacturer directions for care and use of natural gas appliances and heating systems. Always have a licensed heating contractor, plumber or appliance repair representative inspect and repair your natural gas equipment.
- Check furnace filters regularly and clean or replace them according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Keep the furnace unit intact. Don't remove panels without replacing them.
- Keep combustible materials such as papers, fluids, paints, curtains and rags away from furnaces, water heaters and gas ranges and dryers.
- Keep your gas range clean. Make sure burner bowls are free of used matches, grease, paper, etc.
- Be certain the flame on your gas appliance is bright blue. If it's consistently yellow, call a professional to check and adjust the burner.
- Have a fire extinguisher near your appliances. Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
- Keep the pilot lights of your gas range lit. If you put them out to save energy, a dangerous gas build-up can occur if someone accidentally turns on the range.
- Use equipment for the job it was designed to do. Never use your gas range or oven to heat your home.
- Make sure natural gas appliances have proper ventilation according to manufacturer's instructions. Keep chimneys and flues clear. Have your fluepipe and chimney checked to make sure they're not blocked with debris such as nests, branches or ivy.
Pilot lights
Some appliances use a safety device that prevents the main burner from coming on if the pilot light is off. If you find a pilot light out, you need to re-light it right away. Follow the instructions in your appliance manual if available. If not, turn off the burner and wait five minutes. This will allow any accumulated gas to escape.
Always light the match first and then hold it to the pilot burner. Be sure the pilot is lighted before turning on the main burner. Refer to your appliance manual for additional information on the safe use of pilot-type and pilotless-ignition gas appliances.
What to do in the event of a flood
- Turn off electrical power to each appliance and leave it off.
- Be sure the main electrical supply is shut off.
- Shut off the natural gas supply valve to the appliance (usually found on the gas line to the appliance). Do not attempt any further work until this has been done.
- Any natural gas appliance that is removed must have the open end of the pipe leading from the valve to the appliance capped or plugged. This is to prevent the back flow of floodwater into the gas piping system. You can do this by using plugs or pipe caps available at hardware and plumbing supply stores.
- If you are evacuating your premises, shut off your gas valve at the meter. You can turn your gas off at the main shut-off valve on the inlet pipe next to your gas meter. Using a wrench or other suitable tool, give the valve a quarter turn in either direction so that it is crosswise (perpendicular) to the pipe.
If you smell a strong gas odor after a flood
NIPSCO advises customers that if you notice a strong gas odor, or if there is other evidence of a natural gas leak, do not enter the premises.
- If you smell the odor of natural gas inside your home, please leave immediately
- As a precaution, do not smoke, make a spark or flame, switch the lights on/off or raise/lower the windows
- Call NIPSCO's 24-hour emergency number for gas leaks or odor of gas at 1-800-634-3524 or your local emergency response number from nearby
- Stay nearby until a gas company representative arrives, or leave a note on you door stating where you can be reached.
- Don't return until you get the all-clear indication that all is safe.
How to restore service
If the natural gas is shut off at the meter, do not try to turn it back on. Call NIPSCO DirectLink at 1-800-464-7726 to restore gas service, or contact a licensed plumber or contractor.
What to do after a flood
If water levels were enough to cover the gas meter, call NIPSCO to check your meter and regulator before using your gas system. Floodwaters may have shifted your home or caused other stresses to the natural gas piping, possibly resulting in a natural gas leak.
Wet electrical wiring is extremely hazardous. The appropriate jurisdictional inspector must inspect all electrical wiring in buildings that have been partially or fully covered by floodwater before being put into service again. Any loose wires should be considered "live" and a definite hazard.
If flooding has been severe, natural gas appliances should not be used until inspected by a licensed plumber or contractor. However, the cost of restoring some appliances to a safe operating condition may exceed the cost of a new appliance.
Do not attempt to place natural gas appliances back in service yourself. A licensed plumber or contractor will check, clean, repair and pressure test all gas pipes, which may have been clogged with mud or debris.
Damage could also occur to switches, controls, thermostats, furnace heat exchangers, burner and pilot parts and rusting metals parts, to name a few. Again, a licensed plumber or contractor must perform any reconditioning or repairs to natural gas appliances.
Natural gas lines -- What is your responsibility?
Natural gas is transported from producing wells through large underground pipelines called transmission lines. The gas then travels to cities and towns through main lines. From the main lines, natural gas is carried to your home or business through service lines, which stop at the gas meter. NIPSCO owns and maintains that pipeline to the meter; however the property owner owns the house lines, including any that extend beyond the meter to the appliances inside the home or business, or to other locations on the property.
We conduct routine inspections of all piping up to the meter, repairing and replacing lines and meters as necessary. It's the responsibility of the property owner, however, to initiate any inspection and necessary repair or replacement of customer piping through a qualified professional, such as a licensed heating/cooling contractor or plumber. If there is buried piping between the meter and your appliances, it might become subject to corrosion and leakage over time. Buried piping should be inspected periodically for leaks and for corrosion if the piping is metallic. If a gas leak is detected, it might be necessary to interrupt your gas service temporarily until repairs are made. Once the necessary repair work has been completed, the qualified technician who performed the work can restore natural gas service.
How to identify underground natural gas pipelines
Natural gas pipelines are sometimes identified by markers placed at intervals along pipeline rights of way. Markers display 24-hour emergency telephone numbers and might provide other identifying information. They are generally placed wherever needed to indicate the presence of a pipeline, such as where a pipeline easement intersects a street, railroad, or river and in heavily congested areas.
Pipeline markers are important to your safety. It's a federal crime to willfully deface, damage, remove or destroy any pipeline sign or right-of-way marker.
While the markers are very helpful to indicate the presence of pipelines in the area, they don't show the exact location, depth, or how many pipelines are in the right of way. Don't rely solely on the presence or absence of a pipeline marker. Always call your state's one-call notification service to have underground pipelines marked.
Pipeline right-of-ways help protect your safety
A pipeline right-of-way is the strip of land over and around a pipeline. Right- of-ways are kept clear of obstructions to enable the gas company to safely operate, patrol, inspect, maintain and repair its pipelines. We regularly inspect our right-of-ways.
A right-of-way agreement between the gas company and the property owner is called an easement. Easements provide the gas company with permanent, limited interest to the land to enable us to access, operate, test, inspect, maintain and protect our pipelines. Although agreements may vary, right-of-ways can extend up to 25 feet each way from the center of the pipeline.
If the gas company has an easement on your property, you should be aware of our guidelines for encroachment and construction near natural gas pipeline equipment. It's important that property owners not install any structures, store anything that could be an obstruction, or plant trees or shrubs along the right of way. Normal gardening and agricultural activities are generally acceptable. But you should never dig or construct anything in the area without first having a gas company representative mark the pipeline, stake the right-of-way and explain the company's construction guidelines.
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