Ice, snow causing gas meter problems
Published Saturday, March 15, 2008
While a rarity, gas meters sealed by ice can pose a real danger.
Accumulation of ice and snow on or near gas meters and service regulators can prevent them from working properly, especially during freeze/thaw cycles, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (MDPS).
While it could indeed happen, “We rarely, if at all, run into trouble with snow and ice build up, in regard to something serious happening with a customer,” said Mark Hanson, Great Plains Natural Gas spokesman.
When snow melts and re-freezes, it can form solid ice that seals off the vent on a gas regulator. With the vent sealed, the regulator won’t work properly, and one of two things can happen, according to the MDPS. Gas pressure can build up inside the building, resulting in a fire or explosion, or lack of gas flow will result in loss of heat service.
“We’ve never had any instances of that happening here,” Fergus Falls Fire Chief Mark Hovland said.
Outside meter and service regulators should be kept constantly clear of dripping water and snow accumulations.
“If your meter does become covered with ice, don’t try to remove it yourself,” said Elizabeth Skalnek, MDPS pipeline safety chief engineer. “Call your gas company.”
Good advice, according to Hanson. However, “We rarely receive calls from customers to have a build-up removed because our meter readers are out monthly and they monitor the condition of meters. If a build-up occurs, the meter readers report it and our service crews will check it out and take care of any build-up. In some cases, where rain and snow melt run-off falls on a meter, we have installed meter guards to help prevent any ice build up.”
Snow removed from driveways and sidewalks should not be placed near a meter, service regulator or any gas facility.
“If you smell gas, lose service or your gas appliances malfunction, leave your home, and call your natural gas supplier from a neighbor’s house,” Skalnek said, said.
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