Laclede Gas

1. In case of emergency or if you smell the odor of natural gas

If you detect the odor of natural gas, let Laclede track it down.

• Call Laclede's emergency number at (314) 342-0800.
• Don’t turn on or off any electrical appliances, even light switches or cell phones, to avoid creating a spark.
• If the odor is strong, leave the building immediately and warn others. Then, from another location, call Laclede.
• Also, if your pilot or burner is substantially higher than normal, this may be an indication of excessive pressure. Call Laclede immediately.

Suspect a pipeline leak?

There are several signs that can indicate a leak is present. If you see any of these signs, please notify Laclede immediately and we will investigate the situation.

• Hissing sound or odor of gas near a pipeline or in or around any building.
• Ice formation on the ground above a pipeline.
• Distressed or dead vegetation above a pipeline.

2. Dig safely. (www.mo1call.com)

Don’t accidentally break a gas line or other underground service while digging in your yard. Before you dig, call 1-800-DIG-RITE (1-800-344-7483) or 811 (national one-call number). You can also visit www.mo1call.com to have underground utilities located and marked. Wait for the locate to be completed. Then, be aware of the marks as you dig carefully with a shovel. Careless digging cannot only damage and disrupt vital utility services, but can cause injury or even loss of life. If a gas line break occurs, call Laclede immediately at (314) 621-6960 (toll calls: 1-800-887-4173) or (314) 342-0800.

3. Let gas pipes be gas pipes.

Gas pipes have a job of their own to do and shouldn't be used for anything else – certainly not clotheslines, free-form closets or grounds for electrical appliances. Also, if a gas appliance is disconnected, be sure the gas pipe is capped. If your gas meter is located inside, Laclede must be given access to it to perform periodic safety inspections. Avoid damp corrosive environments around gas pipes and take corrective action if you see a badly corroded pipe. If the badly corroded pipe is on the street (inlet) side of the meter, call our Customer Service number at (314) 621-6960 to report this condition. In most cases, our Company does not maintain gas piping located beyond the gas meter.

4. Check your furnace and flue.

See that your heating equipment is clean and in good working order. Properly adjusted pilots and burners and clean filters pay off in both safety and savings. Also clear chimneys, vents and flues. Leaves, birds’ nests, fallen bricks or mortar can mean problems, including exposure to carbon monoxide (CO). If you find something that you can’t handle, call Laclede or your heating contractor. If you like, we also can check to see that your gas appliances have appropriate connectors. Gas appliance service work is not subject to PSC regulation.

5. Guard against carbon monoxide.

Properly working gas appliances are very safe, so your first line of defense against carbon monoxide (CO) is to have your furnace inspected annually, either by Laclede or your heating contractor. If you use a CO alarm, make sure it is a UL-approved, alarm-sounding device. If your CO alarm sounds, call your local fire department.

6. Watch your hot water setting.

A child's skin burns more easily than an adult's. So, if you turn up the thermostat on your water heater for any reason, remember to turn it down when you’re finished to avoid small children accidentally scalding themselves when they turn on the hot water faucet.

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Additional Safety Information

7. Check plastic vent pipes

Some furnaces and boilers installed after September 1987 use high temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes that could, under certain circumstances, crack or separate. Manufacturers are replacing these venting systems free of charge. To determine if you are eligible for the free replacement program, first check the vent pipes attached to your furnace or boiler. If those pipes are gray or black plastic with the names "Plexvent," "Plexvent II," or "Ultravent" stamped on the pipe or printed on stickers, call 1-800-758-3688 any day between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. As a natural gas customer, you should have your furnace checked and cleaned annually to make certain it is operating safely and efficiently.

8. Have older, flexible gas connectors replaced

Uncoated brass flexible connectors installed prior to 1977 — generally to connect appliances such as stoves and dryers with natural gas supply pipes — are susceptible to cracking, breaking and deterioration caused by, among other things, moving, bending, corrosion, and possibly also by some types of detergents, cleaning solvents or ammonia, and cooking grease.

If you think you have an uncoated brass flexible connector in your home, have your gas company or a qualified service contractor replace it with a new one made of stainless steel or plastic-coated brass. Do not attempt to move an appliance to inspect the connector because moving could strain the connector and possibly cause it to crack. Let your gas company or a qualified service contractor conduct an inspection.

It also is a good practice to have a qualified professional inspect and, if necessary, replace any flexible connector that is more than 10 years old.

9. Make sure your appliances and gas lines meet local codes

You are responsible for making sure your gas appliances and piping are installed, operated and maintained in accordance with local codes and manufacturers’ specifications. Gas appliances and piping that are determined to be unsafe must be taken out of service.

10. Relocation of Meters

To assure proper service, gas meters must be accessible. If you are planning to do work on your premises that will affect the location or accessibility of a gas meter or service line, please call our Customer Service number to arrange for us to evaluate your plans.

11. Customer Buried Fuel Line Responsibility

Our company operates and maintains all gas piping up to and including the company’s meter. In most cases, our company does not maintain gas piping located beyond the gas meter. These gas lines are your property and responsibility. If you have any buried gas lines beyond the gas meter, it is recommended that maintenance be performed to prevent potential hazards of corrosion and leaks by periodically inspecting for leaks and corrosion on metallic lines. If unsafe conditions are found, the lines should be repaired or disconnected. If excavating near buried gas piping, locate the lines in advance and hand dig. Our company and some plumbing and heating contractors can assist in locating, inspecting and repairing buried gas lines.

Excess Flow Valves

In accordance with federal regulations, an excess flow valve that meets federal government performance standards may be available for installation at your cost in the new gas service line to your residence. An excess flow valve is installed in a gas service line close to the location where the service line is connected to the gas main. It is designed to shut off the flow of gas automatically if the service line is broken. However, an excess flow valve is not intended to operate in response to small leaks or leaks on customer fuel lines.

If you are interested in having an excess flow valve installed, please call Laclede’s Engineering Department at (314) 658-5441. We will determine whether the service line is eligible and, if appropriate, arrange for the installation. The installation of an excess flow valve in an existing service line will cost $560; $45 to install within a new service line, whether such new service is installed as a part of new home construction or as an existing line being replaced. This amount includes the cost of the valve and the labor to install it. We will add the charge to your gas bill after it is installed. If the valve needs to be replaced or otherwise maintained, you will be charged for the cost of such replacement or maintenance. We estimate the replacement cost to be $560.