Preparing for Natural Gas Service Disruption

Disruption of your natural gas supply is rare…but it can happen.

ATCO Gas is on-call 24 hours every day of the year and we work hard to supply you with natural gas. So much so, you rarely need to think about the possibility of an outage. But accidents and unforeseen circumstances can arise and cause unexpected disruptions in your gas supply.

You should always be prepared for an emergency, regardless of the cause.

If a gas outage occurs, you should be prepared and know what to do.

An electricity outage can also affect natural gas service.

How to Prepare

• What can customers do to prepare?

• What to do during an outage

• Other sources of heat

• What to do during a major emergency

• What to do when the gas comes back on

What can customers do to prepare?

Keep extra supplies on hand

It is a good idea to have supplies on hand and be prepared for any emergency, not just a gas outage. Some of these supplies may include:

• extra clothing and blankets to keep warm;

• an adequate supply of fresh water and non-perishable food items;

• a flashlight, some candles and a battery-operated radio with extra batteries.

What to do during an outage

Keep your house from cooling down

A major concern during a cold weather outage is the possibility of pipes and toilets freezing. Consider winterizing your pipes to prevent them from bursting. Close blinds or drapes and avoid opening doors to keep heat from escaping.

Keep warm

Put on layers of clothing and stay warm.

Other sources of heat

Options for keeping your home warm during an outage include using indoor-rated electric heaters. Wood-burning fireplaces are not recommended unless they have their own fresh air supply for combustion. Outdoor barbecues, kerosene heaters and camping heaters should never be used as they emit Carbon Monoxide.

What to do during a major emergency

By taking a few simple steps today, you can become better prepared to face a range of emergencies - anytime, anywhere.

• You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours. If a disaster happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to get to you as they help those in desperate need.

• The Emergency Public Warning System warns Albertans over radio and television to take action and protect themselves from disasters. This system delivers vital information regarding a threat to the safety of Albertans within a specific region. Take appropriate action and listen for further information.

• When you are instructed to evacuate because of flooding, forest fire or other emergencies, do so at once. If a large number of homes are affected, authorities will likely establish a reception centre. You may choose to stay at the reception centre or go elsewhere. Ensure you register everyone with you at the reception centre in person.

• In case of a hazardous chemical release in your community, you may be instructed to “shelter-in-place.” Take immediate shelter where you are – at home, work or school, usually just for a few hours. Follow the instructions of local authorities.

• Summer storms can bring heavy rain, high winds, hail, intense lightning and even tornadoes, all of which can damage property and threaten lives. Listen to the local radio or TV station. Remain indoors.

• Winter storms bring the dangers of high winds, extremely low temperatures and heavy snowfall or freezing rain. If caught in a blizzard, seek shelter and wait out the storm. Dress for the weather.

• A flash flood is a rapid rise of water. One cause is rainfall intensity and duration. Get to higher ground. Listen to the radio. Avoid already flooded areas and fast flowing water. Get out of a stalled vehicle immediately in rising water. Move items in basement to higher levels.

•  Emergency Kit for Home: ready-to-eat and high-energy foods for 3 days; non-electric can opener; bottled water, at least four (4) litres per person per day - for three days or 72 hours; extra prescription medications; baby supplies, special needs items; lanterns, flashlights, battery-operated radios, batteries, and alternate heat sources; extra warm clothing and blankets; cash and credit cards; first aid kit.

What to do when the gas comes back on

There are two things you may need to do to restore your natural gas supply to your home and get your gas appliances running again:

• Reset your regulator
• Re-light your appliances

Resetting your regulator

A regulator is a pressure sensitive valve that closes when gas service is interrupted. It is always located next to the gas meter, which can be inside or outside your home. There are two types of regulators – a sealed regulator that resets automatically when gas service is restored, and a manual regulator that requires resetting.

The first step

Whether you have a sealed or manual regulator, the first step is to turn off all gas appliances. You can turn off your appliances using either the individual operating valve (control knob) on each appliance or the manually operated back valve on the gas piping leading to each appliance.

• Unscrew the round cap. You should be able to do this by hand. However, a wrench and a small amount of force may be needed on some regulators, particularly those located outside.

• Locate the plunger inside and use your fingers to pull it out. The gas pressure will then hold the plunger in this position. Never use tools to pull the plunger.

• Screw the cap back on.

• Check the dials. If any dials are moving, re-check to make sure you have shut off all your natural gas appliances.

When the dials are not moving, you are ready to re-light your appliances. The illustration below shows the on and off positions for the manually operated back valve.

Manual Regulator - Needs to be reset

If you have a sealed regulator, it will reset automatically when the gas outage is over. If there is a seal on your regulator, do not try to break the seal. A sealed regulator usually has a warning label on it stating that it resets automatically.

Sealed Regulator - This type will reset itself

Re-lighting your appliances

On each natural gas appliance, you will find an instruction plate or label on how to re-light the appliance. Each appliance has a slightly different procedure for re-lighting. Carefully follow the instructions on each appliance.

If you cannot find the regulator or are unsure how to re-light your appliances, turn off all gas appliances and call your nearest ATCO Gas office.

Contact Us.