During extremely cold weather, UGI strongly urges consumers who use fuelburning
heating systems to take proper precautions to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
A malfunctioning heating unit can spread CO through your home, especially if your unit has not
recently been serviced. Carbon Monoxide safety is particularly important during the winter when
homes are closed tightly.
Additionally, UGI strongly advises that consumers be aware of the significant safety risks of
using appliances such as ovens, ranges and dryers to heat their homes (or to provide supplemental
heat to their homes). Misuse of appliances in this manner can cause an extremely dangerous fire
hazard, and can spread (CO) throughout a consumer’s home.
In addition to natural gas appliances, common sources of CO include leaking chimneys;
unvented, fuel-burning space heaters (especially if malfunctioning); and indoor use of a charcoal
barbeque grill.
Carbon monoxide CO is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that results from the incomplete
burning of fuels such as wood, charcoal, gasoline, kerosene, oil, natural gas or propane.
Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness.
Signs within a home that an appliance may be malfunctioning and producing CO include:
• Condensation on walls and windows
• House plants dying
• House pets becoming sluggish
• Chronic odors from a malfunctioning appliance
• Those living in the home are suffering from flu-like symptoms or are unusually tired.
CO poisoning can be fatal. Fresh air and prompt medical attention are important if you are
experiencing any symptoms of CO poisoning. To prevent CO poisoning, you should:
• Make sure appliances are installed by a qualified technician and operated according to the
manufacturer’s instructions and local building codes.
• Have the chimney cleaned and inspected for leakage, debris blockages or a
buildup of creosote. If you see black stains on the outside of the chimney or flue,
it could mean pollutants, like carbon, are leaking into your home.
• Have the heating system inspected and serviced if you have not already done so.
• Confirm appropriate level of ventilation and air circulation for safe operation, particularly
if you have made modifications to your home that reduced air flow near appliances.
• Install a CO detector/alarm on each floor of a home, especially near every separate
sleeping area. CO detectors have a limited operating life. Check the manufacturer’s
instruction for related information and replacement considerations.
• Change or clean furnace filters regularly.
• Keep interior and exterior air vents clear of blockages.
Customers are reminded to contact 911 or UGI immediately if they small gas inside or outside of
their home or business at
1-800-276-2722 (for CPG customers, call
1-800-652-0550). There is no
charge to respond to and investigate a gas odor. Natural gas is odorless, so a chemical, known as
mercaptan, is added to help with detection. The smell is similar to that of rotten eggs.
UGI Utilities’ headquarters is located in Reading, Pennsylvania. The utility serves more than
648,000 natural gas and electric customers in eastern and central Pennsylvania. Additional
information about UGI is available at
www.ugi.com, on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/ugiutilities or Twitter at
www.twitter.com/ugi_utilities.