Safety First

​

Safety is our #1 priority at Hawkins County Gas.  We strive to make our customers feel comfortable and safe at all times.  In the event of an emergency, call our 24-hour emergency line at (423) 272-8841 or (423) 357-8585.  If your call is not answered please dial 911 and report your emergency.

​

THE DISTINCTIVE ODOR OF NATURAL GAS AND PROPANE GAS

​

A distinctive odor is added to natural gas and propane gas to aid in the detection of leaks.  You should not rely on your sense of smell alone to determine if there is a gas leak.  Some persons may not be able to smell the odor because they have a diminished sense of smell or because the odor is being masked by other odors in the area.  In addition, certain conditions, such as odor fade (loss of odorant) may cause the odor to diminish so that it is not detectable.

​

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

​

• Investigate immediately.

• If the source of the odor cannot be located or corrected, call Hawkins County Gas immediately (24 hours a day).  A Hawkins County Gas technician will come to your home or business and make an inspection at no cost to you.

​

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

​

• Immediately extinguish all smoking materials and other open flames.

• DO NOT light a match or other flame.  DO NOT SMOKE.

• DO NOT use the telephone or a cellular phone in the building of the suspected gas leak.

• DO NOT operate any electrical switch, including a light switch, appliance controls, or pull any plugs from the outlets.  A spark could ignite the gas.

• If safe to do so, open doors and windows for ventilation.

• Leave the building or area immediately where you suspect gas is leaking.

• If the suspected leak is from a propane tank shut off the main gas supply on your propane tank, if it safe to do so.  To close the valve, turn it to the right (clockwise).

• Go to a safe location in a nearby home or building.

• Use a neighbor's phone or cellular phone outside of the building to call Hawkins County Gas or call 911.  Never assume that someone else has reported the gas leak.

• DO NOT RETURN TO THE BUILDING OR AREA of the suspected gas leak until Hawkins County Gas, a First Responder or a qualified professional determines it is safe to do so.

• Never try to repair the gas leak yourself.  Leave all repairs to a trained technician.

• Remember, Hawkins County Gas checks suspected gas leaks at no cost to you.

​

IF YOU SMELL OR DETECT NATURAL GAS OR PROPANE GAS OUTSIDE, CALL HAWKINS COUNTY GAS IMMEDIATELY.

​

Recognizing a gas leak outside is sometimes difficult, however, listed below are a few indicators of a possible gas leak:

​

• Smelling gas (odorant) near a meter or pipeline, sometimes after excavation work.

• A hissing or roaring sound caused by escaping gas.

• Dead vegetation in an otherwise green environment near a gas line.

• Blowing dirt, grass, or leaves.

• Steady bubbling in a wet, flooded area or other water environment.

• A fire in or near an appliance or gas pipe.

​​

Do not rely on your sense of smell alone to detect the presence of natural gas or propane gas.  Odor fade is caused by a physical and chemical processes, which diminishes the odorant in the gas.  It occurs predominantly in installations of new pipe rather than in existing pipe.  Odor fade is more pronounced in new steel pipe, and in pipe of larger diameter and longer length, however, it can also occur in plastic pipe, and in smaller pipe installations. In addition, if a natural gas or propane leak occurs underground, the surrounding soil may also cause odor fade.

​

New installations of additions of pipe may require the conditioning of the pipe before it is placed into service to prevent odor fade.  Other factors that may cause odor fade include:

​

• Construction and configuration of the customer's gas facilities.

• Presence of rust, moisture, liquids or other substances in the pipe.

• Gas composition, pressure and flow​

​​

Intermittent, little or no gas flow over an extended period of time may also result in the loss of odorant until gas flow increases or becomes more frequent.​

​

Remember, do not rely on your sense of smell alone to detect the presence of natural gas or propane gas.  If you suspect an underground gas leak please call our 24-hour emergency line at (423) 272-8841 or (423) 357-8585.  If your call is not answered please call 911 to report the gas leak.

​

GAS METER SAFETY TIPS

​

As an added safety measure and to help ensure correct meter readings:

​

• Know where your gas meter is located.

• Keep it clear for emergency responses.

• Keep shrubbery trimmed away from your gas meter.  If we cannot see it, then it could mean valuable lost time in an emergency situation trying to find it behind shrubbery or other obstructions.

• Never allow trees, large shrubbery, or bushes to grow around the gas meter.  As the tree or bush grows it can cause pipe fittings to break.

• DO NOT enclose your gas meter.

• DO NOT tie pets or other objects to your gas meter or gas piping.

• DO NOT pile mulch, soil, concrete, or asphalt so high that it covers the bottom of the gas meter or the cut-off valve.  Gas meters and fittings can rust or corrode and leak if covered with these items.

• DO NOT electrically ground anything to the gas meter or service line.

​​

Remember, natural gas is a safe and reliable source of energy that, like electricity, must be treated with respect and care.  Keeping these safety tips in mind will help keep the natural gas system that serves you and thousands of others safe and reliable for decades to come.

​