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

  1. Look: Blowing dirt, bubbling creeks or ponds, dry spots in moist areas or dead plants surrounded by healthy, green plants
  2. Listen: An unusual hissing sound near gas lines or appliances
  3. 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?

  1. Leave: Leave the area immediately. Do not try to find or stop the leak.
  2. 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.
  3. Call: Immediately call Charlottesville Utilities at 434-970-3800 or 43Flicker at a classroom4-293-9164 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.

VA811.com Dig with CareCall 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.