With Winter Approaching, PG&E Offering Free Gas Appliance Safety Checks and Pilot Re-Lights

Rhea-AI Summary

PG&E is offering free in-home gas safety checks to help customers prepare for winter. The service includes gas appliance inspections and pilot light re-lighting for heaters and appliances that were inactive during warmer months. This initiative aims to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, which has led to over 6,000 suspected incidents in 2024 alone.

The service ensures safe and efficient operation of water heaters, furnaces, and ovens. According to CDC data, CO poisoning causes over 400 deaths, 100,000 emergency room visits, and 14,000 hospitalizations annually in the US. Customers can schedule appointments online at pge.com/pilotlights or call 800-743-5000.

Customers can schedule appointments online to ensure gas appliances are in safe working condition

OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To help customers prepare their gas appliances for safe use during the cold weather months ahead, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is offering free in-home gas safety checks. During the gas safety checks, PG&E also will re-light pilot lights for customers who have heaters or other appliances that have been turned off during warmer months. 

Free safety checks help ensure that gas appliances, including water heaters, furnaces and ovens, are operating safely and efficiently, reducing the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning within the home. Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous because it can't be seen, smelled or heard.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, more than 100,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 14,000 are hospitalized. Since the start of 2024, PG&E has responded to more than 6,000 incidents where the presence of carbon monoxide is suspected.

"This free safety program is a great way for customers to prepare for increased use of their natural gas appliances as the cold season approaches. One of our Gas team members will conduct safety inspections to help ensure that gas appliances are in proper working order and also relight pilot lights. Scheduling a free gas safety check is one of the many ways PG&E is proud to help customers and our hometowns prepare to stay safe and warm this winter," said Joe Forline, PG&E Senior Vice President, Gas Operations.

Before the colder winter months when natural gas appliances typically see the most use, PG&E encourages customers to schedule an inspection by visiting www.pge.com/pilotlights. Scheduling your appointment online is free and easy and will help you avoid hold times on our customer service line. Customers can also call 800-743-5000 to schedule appointments.

Helpful Winter Gas Safety Tips

• Install carbon monoxide detectors to warn when concentration levels are high.
  • All California single-family homes are required to have carbon monoxide detectors.
  • Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed on every floor, near sleeping areas and common areas.
  • These devices should be tested twice a year, and batteries replaced if necessary.
  • Check the expiration date – most carbon monoxide detectors have a shelf life of five to seven years.
• Never use products inside the home that generate dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, such as generators, outdoor grills, or propane heaters.
• Never use cooking devices such as ovens or stoves for home heating purposes.
• When using the fireplace to stay warm, make sure the flue is open so venting can occur safely through the chimney.
• Make sure water heaters and other natural gas appliances have proper ventilation.
• Click here for more winter heating safety and savings tips.

If you suspect carbon monoxide in your home, you should get out immediately and call 911. If a PG&E customer ever smells the distinctive "rotten egg" odor of natural gas in or around their home or business they should immediately evacuate and then call 911 and PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

 

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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company

FAQ

How can PG&E customers schedule a free gas safety check for winter 2024?

PG&E customers can schedule free gas safety checks by visiting www.pge.com/pilotlights or calling 800-743-5000. The service includes appliance inspections and pilot light re-lighting.

What services are included in PG&E's free gas safety check program?

PG&E's free gas safety check program includes inspection of gas appliances (water heaters, furnaces, and ovens), ensuring they operate safely and efficiently, and re-lighting pilot lights for heaters and appliances.

How many carbon monoxide incidents has PG&E responded to in 2024?

Since the start of 2024, PG&E has responded to more than 6,000 incidents where the presence of carbon monoxide was suspected.

What safety requirements does PG&E recommend for carbon monoxide detectors?

PG&E recommends installing CO detectors on every floor near sleeping and common areas, testing them twice yearly, replacing batteries as needed, and checking their expiration date, as most have a 5-7 year shelf life.