A reminder from the North Bay Fire Department on the importance of keeping snow and ice from building up and covering your gas meter and the external exhaust outlets for furnaces, fireplaces, water heaters and clothes dryers.

Fire Chief Jason Whiteley says these vents can cause the carbon monoxide emitted from fuel burning appliances to build up in your home which is a safety hazard.

He says a gas meter covered in snow or ice can impede its function of controlling the pressure of the gas supplied to your home which can lead to serious risks.

Whiteley says if there’s an emergency the gas company or the fire department would need immediate access and a blocked gas meter would cost valuable time.

He says if your meter or external appliance vent pipe is covered with snow, please remove the snow carefully with either a brush or broom.

Whiteley says do not scrape the meter or vent pipe with a sharp instrument and this may cause unintended damage.

Other tips do not shovel, plow or blow snow up against the meter or vent, be careful not to bump your meter with a snow blower, never kick your gas meter or vent pipes in an attempt to clear ice and snow and remove any icicles from overhead eaves troughs to ensure dripping water does not splash and freeze on the meter or vent pipe.

Filed under: gas meters, Jason Whiteley, snow