Safety Precautions

Did You Know?

We include important information about natural gas safety in your bill four times a year. News you can use! Here you'll find all of the news and information that's typically included along with your Nicor Gas monthly bill when you receive it in the mail each month.

September 2019
Natural Gas Safety and You
La seguridad con el gas natural y usted

June 2019
Safety Is Our Top Priority
La seguridad es nuestra prioridad máxima

March 2019
Natural Gas Safety and You
Seguridad de gas natural

Appliance & Equipment Safety

Keep your natural gas appliances and/or equipment in good working condition by following these safety tips:

• Keep your natural gas appliances and equipment maintained and in good working order by having them cleaned and/or inspected for safety once a year by a certified natural gas contractor/HVAC technician. 
• Gas appliances should have proper air circulation at all times. 
• A gas flame should burn bright blue. A yellow or orange flame could indicate improper combustion or venting. Have your appliance checked by a certified contractor if you believe your system is not working properly. 
• Keep flammable or combustible items away from gas appliances and equipment. 
• Use natural gas equipment only for what it's designed to do. For example, you should never use a stove or oven for heating. 
• Buy only natural gas equipment that has the American Gas Association Blue Star Seal of Approval, which shows that the appliance meets strict safety standards.

Sewer Line Safety

When dealing with a sewer blockage, there is a remote, yet potentially hazardous condition that could be created when dealing with a sewer blockage.

Directional Boring and Cross Bores

Utilities use a trenchless technology called horizontal directional drilling (or directional boring) to pull cables, conduit and pipe underground. This installation method causes minimal impact to the surrounding area and minimizes environmental disruption. It also saves time, allowing utility crews to work more efficiently. There are instances when an underground sewer line is not properly identified prior to directional boring activities and it’s possible that a natural gas pipe can be inadvertently pulled through a sewer line. The resulting condition is known as a “cross bore.” Cross bores can go unnoticed for months or even years. They are typically discovered when it becomes necessary to clear a sewer line blockage.

If a natural gas pipe has been bored through the sewer line, the gas pipeline could be damaged, resulting in a loss of service and a potentially hazardous leak condition. If you are aware of the existence of a cross bore, call Nicor Gas at 888.Nicor4U (642.6748) and report it as a natural gas emergency.

Learn More for Customers

Learn More for Contractors

Pipeline Safety

Nicor Gas carefully maintains a network of natural gas mains and service pipelines that deliver natural gas to more than 640 communities in Illinois. This comprehensive infrastructure provides the natural gas necessary to successfully serve more than two million homes and businesses.