Columbia Gas of Ohio Reminds Customers to Use Caution with Outdoor Projects

ZANESVILLE, OH – June is National Safety Month and Columbia Gas of Ohio is sharing some important reminders if you plan to do some home improvements this summer.

Whether you’re in the beginning planning stages or getting ready to break ground, the most important thing you should do is call 811 before you dig.

Erica Chronaberry, Columbia Gas of Ohio’s Communications Director, said a good rule of thumb is if it involves natural gas equipment or lines, don’t turn it into a DIY project.

“If you think about it, you wouldn’t try to fly a plane if you weren’t qualified to do so,” Chronaberry said. “It’s the same concept with working on your natural gas appliances, it’s a safety concern. To work on your natural gas appliances and pipelines, that takes education, it takes training, it takes expertise and that’s why we try to share that you should never do it yourself, if you are not qualified to do so.”

Chronaberry said some things to keep in mind when planning projects in the home are; never install a furnace where someone sleeps, contact a qualified contractor when you notice a change with natural gas appliances, and make sure everything is properly vented.

She said if you have been planning a project but aren’t sure what to do next, there’s still time to stop and ask for help.

“This is an important reminder just to keep our customers safe,” Chronaberry said. “If someone out there has already done it themselves, it’s not too late to call a contractor to have those pipelines or maybe those appliances you worked on, it’s not too late to have them come out and check to make sure everything is working properly. So whether you were going to do something, I would call a contractor first, if you’ve already [done it] still call that contractor to make sure you’re safe.”

If you’re planning a summer project and still need help finding a contractor, Columbia Gas has a complete list of qualified contractors available on their website.