Gas Safety
Carbon Monoxide
As part of safe natural gas use, install carbon monoxide detectors in your home and create a family escape plan. If the alarm sounds, leave your home immediately and notify Charlottesville Gas from a neighbor’s house, cell phone or building at 434-970-3800 or 434-293-9164.
Safety Tips
- Follow manufacturer’s direction for care and use of your natural gas appliances
- Keep combustible material away from your gas appliances
- Keep your natural gas appliances clean
- Teach children not to play with natural gas appliances
- Never use your natural gas range to heat your home
- Install fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
How to Recognize Gas Leaks
- Look: Blowing dirt, bubbling creeks or ponds, dry spots in moist areas or dead plants surrounded by healthy, green plants
- Listen: An unusual hissing sound near gas lines or appliances
- Smell: Natural gas is odorless. Charlottesville Gas adds a substance called mercaptan to give gas a rotten-egg smell
Do You Suspect a Gas Leak?
- Leave: Leave the area immediately. Do not try to find or stop the leak.
- Don’t Touch: Do not smoke, use a cell phone or flashlight, turn lights or appliances on or off or operate any kind of vehicle or equipment that could create a spark.
- Call: Immediately call Charlottesville Utilities at 434-970-3800 or 43
4-293-9164 or 911
Flicker at Your Classroom Program
Flicker the Flame is Charlottesville’s natural gas safety ambassador. Flicker visits elementary schools and camps year-round to talk about natural gas safety. His free program is interactive and engaging. For more information, or to request a presentation, email Flicker or by contacting Gas Marketing at 434-970-3686.
Call Before You Dig - It’s The Law
Whether you are installing an underground dog fence, running water to an outbuilding or digging for a new mail box post, underground piping and other utilities can be damaged. When you call the toll-free number 811, all buried utility lines on your property will be professionally located so you can dig safely and prevent a potentially hazardous condition. The service is free of charge. For more information visit Va811.
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Utilities
Emergency: 434-293-9164
Our emergency number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.