Appliance Safety and Maintenance

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To help ensure safe and efficient operation, a licensed heating or plumbing contractor or SDG&E should check your gas appliances every year. Below are some tips to help you use energy safely and efficiently during the winter months, or you can download - Winter Energy Savings and Safety Tips

  • Have gas appliances such as the furnace and water heater checked at least once a year by a licensed heating or plumbing contractor or SDG&E. Failure to perform annual maintenance on your gas appliances may result in exposure to carbon monoxide.
  • Periodically check your gas appliances by making sure pilot lights and burner flames are a clear blue,  (small flecks of orange are normal). However, a pilot light with a soft yellow burner flame can be a sign of carbon monoxide.
  • Check for significant build up of soot in the appliance, another sign of incomplete combustion. If your heater has a yellow pilot light flame and/or significant build up of soot in an appliance, shut off the appliance and call a licensed heatingor plumbing contractor, or call SDG&E at 1-800-411-SDGE (7343).

Regular maintenance and inspection of gas appliances can help prevent carbon monoxide.

  • Vacuum around burner compartments, and inspect and replace furnace filters on forced-air units or central heating systems according to manufacturer instructions.
  • Make sure to properly replace the front panels of a forced-air unit or the burner compartment door of a gas wall heater.
  • Never store anything near a gas appliance that might interfere with normal appliance airflow.
  • Have all gas appliances and venting repairs done by a qualified and licensed heating or plumbing contractor.
  • When using your gas fireplace, make sure the damper is open.
  • Never use your gas oven for space heating.
  • Gas appliance maintenance is always the homeowner’s responsibility. However, SDG&E will perform appliance safety checks upon request. Call 1-800-411-SDGE (7343).

Furnace Safety

It is important to maintain your furnace for safety and operating efficiency. Remember to never use your oven, range or outdoor barbecue to heat your home because doing so could lead to dangerous carbon monoxide exposure.

To read more safety tips and information on how to safely heat your home this winter, visit the Home Heating Safety section of this website.

Water Heaters

  • All gas appliances have a main burner flame and many also have a pilot flame. To reduce the risk of flammable vapors being ignited by these flames, follow these tips:
    • Water heaters installed in garages must be elevated so the pilot or other source of ignition is a minimum of 18 inches above the floor or installed per local building codes or the manufacturers’ installation instructions.
    • Never store or use flammable products such as gasoline, paint thinner, or cleaning products in the same room or near any gas or heat-producing appliance.
  • Earthquakes can cause improperly secured water heaters to move or topple. To help prevent this,
    • strap it firmly to the wall studs in two places -- the upper and lower one-third of the tank -- with heavy bolts and metal tape.
    • Be sure to place the lower strap at least 4 inches above the thermostat controls.
    • Kits are often available at your local hardware store.
  • Lower water heater temperature to prevent scalding accidents. Water temperatures above 125 degrees can cause severe burns or even death.

Natural Gas Fireplace Logs

The appearance of gas log flames are designed to be more natural looking so they are more yellow than the flames in your appliances.
Here are some helpful tips about fireplace logs:

  • A soft, yellow flame from a gas log could mean your gas logs are producing CO, especially if there is soot.
  • As long as your chimney is clean and drafting properly, and the chimney damper is completely open, the CO should be drawn up the chimney, and out of your home.
  • Always keep your chimney damper open when you are using gas or wood logs and make sure your chimney is drafting properly.

Attic Insulation

Attic insulation can help lower your energy bills. But improperly installed installation can create a fire hazard. Check out the following tips for new and existing attic insulation.

  • Keep insulation away from all heat source, furnaces, water heaters, recessed light fixtures, fan motors, doorbell transformers, chimney, flues and vents.
  • Install barrier made of non-combustible material around the above heat sources.
  • Keep insulation away from all bare wire or ”knob and tube” wiring.
  • Keep the air supply openings to the forced-air furnace free of any insulation.
  • Leave attic or eave vents uncovered.
  • Periodically check attic for insulation movement.
  • Contact a state-licensed insulation contractor if you have any questions about proper installation.