To Report A Gas Leak, Call Chester County Natural Gas

803-385-3157 (Chester Office)
803-482-2442 800-671-2865 (Great Falls Office)
***After Hours for all locations: 803-385-3158***

Natural Gas is an odorless, non-toxic gas that is lighter than air and contains no poisonous ingredients. Breathing natural gas is not harmful as long as there is an adequate supply of fresh air to breathe along with it. Natural gas by itself will not burn. Combustion or explosion can occur only when there is a mixture of gas and air containing between 5%-15% of natural gas and an ignition source.

An odorant that smells like rotten eggs is added to natural gas so that it can be detected.

IF YOU SMELL A FAINT ODOR OF NATURAL GAS INSIDE YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS:

• Investigate immediately.
• If the source of the odor cannot be located or corrected, call Chester County Natural Gas immediately (24 hours a day). A Chester County Natural Gas representative will come to your home or business and make an inspection at no charge to you. Open flames or sparks can ignite natural gas. That is why unburned natural gas should never be allowed to escape into a room.
• Do not smoke or strike a match and never operate an electric switch, flashlight, lighter or telephone. Each of these can ignite natural gas.
• Immediately open the doors and windows and quickly check to see if any appliances have been left on accidentally or if a pilot light has been extinguished, which would cause the odor (rotten eggs).
• If the odor persists, TAKE NO CHANCES, get out of the house immediately, then call Chester County Natural Gas from a nearby phone.

Because of its unique qualities of being lighter than air with a narrow bank of combustion, natural gas is the safest energy source available. Understanding and following safety procedures will make it even safer.

IF A STRONG OR PERSISTENT ODOR OF GAS IS PRESENT IN YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS, OR IF YOU HEAR A HISSING SOUND OF ESCAPING NATURAL GAS,

Follow this procedure:

• Get everyone out of the building immediately.
• Leave the door open.
• Use a neighbor's phone or cellular phone outside of the building to call Chester County Natural Gas Authority.
• DO NOT operate any electrical switches or appliance controls and do not pull any plugs from outlets.
• DO NOT call from the building.
• Close cut-off valve near the gas meter and DO NOT turn it on again. (A Chester County Natural Gas representative will turn it on).
• If possible, ventilate the building by opening doors and windows at the top and bottom. Start where the odor is the strongest. DO NOT re-enter the building for this purpose.

If you SMELL OR DETECT NATURAL GAS OUTSIDE, call Chester County Natural Gas Authority immediately.