Winter weather is here, and that means fireplaces are lit, heaters are running, and warm meals are cooking. To help ensure our community members enjoy a safe winter season, Liberty has some important reminders for around the home.

  • Between meals, make sure all kitchen equipment – mainly your stove and oven – is turned off. Kitchen equipment should never be used for heating.
  • Avoid using portable fuel gas heaters, such as propane or kerosene, indoors. Additionally, electric heaters should have a UL Tag on the unit or cord.
  • Keep anything that can catch on fire away from cooking equipment – like oven mitts, paper or plastic bags, towels, etc. – and avoid loose clothing while cooking.
  • Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home, especially in the kitchen and near bedrooms, and set a reminder at least twice each year to test and/or replace the batteries.
  • Always use a safety screen in the fireplace and make sure holiday decorations are fire-resistant and at least three feet away from an open fire.
  • Each year, have a licensed heating contractor inspect your chimneys and flue pipes for safe operation.
  • Ensure wood or pellet stoves are installed and vented properly, inspected regularly, and only burn natural wood (avoid burning pressure-treated or painted wood or construction debris).
  • Practice care if using candles. Make sure to extinguish them when not in use, place them on a non-flammable surface, keep them away from any other objects and out of reach of children and pets. Or consider flameless alternatives.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher rated for home use mounted near the exit doors, not near a hazard such as a stove. Make sure it has not expired and everyone in the household knows how to use it.
  • Layer up! In the extreme cold, it’s best to dress in layers with a wind-resistant outer layer.
  • Have an emergency kit ready for inclement weather. Non-perishable food items, a manual can opener, hand sanitizer, baby wipes, flashlights, a wind-up or battery-powered radio, batteries, unscented candles, matches, duct tape, a first aid kit, and sleeping bags are all good items to include.
  • Keep gas meters clear of ice and snow, using a broom or brush. Do not use a shovel or any other sharp object, and never pour hot water on natural gas equipment to melt ice.
  • If you smell rotten eggs, leave and call Liberty at 1-855-216-6306 or 911.

"Safety is of utmost importance to us,” said Carolyn Bermudez, President of Liberty Georgia, “and that includes the safety of our employees, our customers, and our community at large. As we head into this cold snap, we want to remind residents of what they should and shouldn’t do when it comes to staying warm and safe."

For more tips on how to stay safe this winter, or how to safely reduce energy usage and increase energy efficiency while staying warm, visit LibertyEnergyandWater.com or follow Liberty’s “12 Days of Safety” on Facebook and Twitter.

About Liberty

Part of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., Liberty is committed to providing safe and reliable natural gas, water, and electricity distribution services to over one million customer connections. Liberty’s utility operations are primarily located in the United States and Canada and have expanded to Chile and Bermuda. With a customer-centric approach to management, Liberty seeks to provide a superior customer experience through local management, conservation and energy efficiency initiatives, and programs for businesses and residential customers. We measure our performance in terms of service reliability, customer satisfaction, and public and workplace safety. Liberty’s North American distribution operations include Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, and Texas in the United States, and New Brunswick in Canada. For more information, please visit www.libertyenergyandwater.com.  

 

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