Safety

How To Recognize a Natural Gas Leak:

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LOOK...

For water bubbling or being blown into the air at a puddle, creek, pond or river.
For dirt being blown or thrown into the air.
For fire that either comes from the ground or appears to burn above the ground.
For dead or dying vegetation on or near roadways or easements in otherwise green areas.
For dry spots in moist, otherwise green locations.

LISTEN...

For a roaring, blowing, or hissing sound.

SMELL...

Although natural gas is odorless, a "rotton-egg" smelling agent (Mercaptan) is added to help you detect a leak.

What To Do If You Suspect a Natural Gas Leak:

First, turn off and abandon any motorized equipment you may be operating.
Leave the area quickly.
Warn others to stay away from the area.
From a safe place, report the emergency to the local fire department by calling 9-1-1.
Call the pipeline operator. If it is Lake Apopka Natural Gas District, call our 24/7 emergency toll-free telephone number at 800.542.3344, or you can always call our local number at 407.656.2734.

DO NOT use open flames or bring anything into the area that may spark ignition of the gas leak (like telephones, flashlights, motor vehicles or electric or battery operated tools, etc.)
DO NOT attempt to extinguish the fire.
DO NOT attempt to operate underground valves or control the flow of escaping gas by bending or squeezing pipe.

Environment Safety Guidelines:

A situation may occur when one of our field employee feels that the condition of the site they have been requested to work in is either unsafe or unsanitary. At this point, the employee should stop immediately and notify their supervisor of the situation. Upon receiving approval from the supervisor, the field employee should inform the customer of the issue and advise the customer to either:

Correct the situation before our employee returns to complete the job, or
Hire a licensed gas plumber to do the inside work

In the case of a reported inside leak where the field employee feels the condition of the site is either unsafe or unsanitary, the employee should:

Request that the customer evacuate the home. (The Fire Department can be called to assist in the evacuation, if necessary.);
Shut off and lock the meter;
Conduct an outside leak survey to make certain the leak is not coming from the main or service line;
Advise the customer to call a licensed gas plumber to repair the inside gas leak.

Note: A trip charge will be applied to the customer's account for each return trip except in the case of leak calls.

Excess Flow Valve (EFV) Customer Notification

In accordance with recent federal pipeline safety regulations Title 49 CFR 192.383(e), LANGD is required to notify all natural gas customers of the new excess flow valve (EFV) requirements. Click here to read.

Customer Buried Piping Notification

By law, LANGD is required to notify you, the customer, that LANGD does NOT maintain the customer's installation and it is your responsibility to maintain it. Click here to read.

Appliance Safety Tips:

Make sure that you observe basic safety rules when you operate your natural gas appliances inside your home. Below are a few simple steps to follow to ensure the safety of yourself and your loved ones:

DO NOT use or store flammable products such as gasoline, solvents or adhesives in the same room or area where a water heater or any other gas appliance is installed. KEEP FLAMMABLE PRODUCTS stored in approved containers with lids tightly closed and away from your children and appliances.
DO NOT keep paper, curtains, solvents, etc. near gas appliances. They can be a fire hazard.
Make sure all of your gas appliances are in proper working order, with proper venting, no leaks and with a sufficient supply of air to operate safely.
To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning...
- 1) Keep boxes, laundry or other materials from restricting air flow to appliance.
- 2) Make sure vent hoods, pipes, or flues are not blocked or corroded.
- 3) Make sure your gas appliance is installed correctly.
- 4) NEVER use a gas appliance incorrectly. For example, do not use your gas stove to heat a room or use a gas or charcoal grill indoors.
- 5) Have your natural gas furnaces, fireplaces, or space heaters inspected every year. Other appliances, such as water heaters, clothes dryers, ranges and cook tops, should be checked for proper operation every two years.