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Meter Maintenance & Safety

Natural Gas Meter Maintenance and Safety

Smell a leak?

Leave the area and contact Dakota Natural Gas at 888-933-9743.

The first step of meter maintenance and safety is to understand the infrastructure that delivers natural gas to your home. A main pipeline runs under your street or road. It supplies fuel to you and your neighbors. A natural gas service line delivers fuel from the main to a meter attached to your home. Another line runs from the meter into your home, where it distributes fuel to your gas appliances.

Dakota Natural Gas and our customers both play a role in keeping natural gas meters maintained and safe.

How We Keep Your Gas Meters Safe

Dakota Natural Gas is responsible for maintaining and repairing the service line from the main to your meter as well as the meter and regulator attached to your home. Our team of professionals will visit your home periodically to inspect your meter and service line.

How You Keep Your Gas Meters Safe

You are responsible for maintaining the line from the meter to your home, whether it appears underground or on the surface, as well as the lines that distribute fuel to your gas appliances. A licensed heating contractor can help you maintain the lines to avoid corrosion and leaks.

Clear Away Snow and Ice

Midwest winters cause ice and snow to accumulate around your gas meter, pipes, and appliance vents. If these become blocked by snow or locked up by ice, it can create a safety issue. Here are a few tips for keeping your natural gas meter clear:

  • Maintain a clear path to and from the meter in case of emergency.
  • Prevent melting snow from dripping on the meter.
  • Use a shovel to carefully clear the snow around the meter. NEVER use a snowblower near your gas meter or piping.
  • Use a broom or brush to gently clean snow on the meter.

Get Your Equipment Inspected

Your favorite licensed heating contractor can help you maintain your meter and gas lines with regular inspections. They will locate, inspect, and repair your gas piping, including buried piping.

Take Care of Connectors

Your contractor should also inspect the connectors on your gas appliances. Gas connectors must be replaced if damaged. Only a qualified professional should inspect and replace gas connectors. Don’t replace them yourself.

Some flexible connectors from the 1970s and 1980s may fail over time. We recommend replacing flexible connectors once every ten years.

Get in touch with the natural gas safety team at Dakota Natural Gas to get your safety questions answered. If you smell gas or have a natural gas emergency, call us immediately at 888.933.9743.

Winter Safety

North Dakota One Call

Are you utilizing the North Dakota One Call or 811 system? You must call in locates at least two business days prior to doing any digging on your property. By following this important step, you will prevent service interruption for both you and your neighbors.

 

Safety Tip 

As you are spring cleaning, take a few minutes to clean around your furnace and water heater! Never store rags, boxes, newspaper, chemicals or paint cans around these appliances.