With winter around the corner, Black Hills Energy is providing an important safety message to make sure your heating system and appliances are properly vented and in good working order. If not, the result can be a dangerous gas leak or buildup of poisonous carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide naturally occurs when wood, gasoline, charcoal, propane, natural gas and other fuels are burned. Most incidents involving fuel leaks and carbon monoxide buildup are due to faulty equipment or misuse.

"Just like a car or any machine with moving parts, your home's heating system and appliances should be inspected annually," said Jeff Sylvester, vice president of Nebraska gas operations. "For home heating, a professional safety inspection and tune-up each year provides peace of mind and peak operating efficiency, for improved comfort and a lower energy bill."

The start of heating season also increases the potential for gas leaks in equipment left idle for many months. "Natural gas has an excellent safety record and it's the preferred source of energy for heating more than 70 million homes in the United States," Sylvester said. "But everyone should know what to do if you detect a possible problem."

If you think you smell the rotten egg odor of natural gas, get everyone out immediately. From another location, call 911 or Black Hills Energy's 24-hour emergency number: 800-694-8989.

Also call immediately if you suspect unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that is extremely dangerous at elevated levels.

"A carbon monoxide detector is the best way to receive adequate warning that a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide has occurred," Sylvester said. "Fall is a good time to make sure you have enough smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors installed, and to put fresh batteries in all of them."

Physical symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include, but are not limited to, a scratchy throat, runny nose, headache, drowsiness or nausea. Other warning signs can be condensation or frost on windows from an excessive buildup of humidity, or a draft coming out of the front of the furnace when it isn't running.

"If you have questions about home heating safety, please call us without hesitation," Sylvester said. 

distributed by