Natural Gas Information

Natural Gas Is a Versatile Source of Fuel: Learn More

The Gas Company has a series of videos about NGV vehicles, the new Advanced Meters and information about gas leaks and dig alerts.

Maintain Your Appliances

When days get shorter and the nights get cooler, people turn on their furnaces for the first time in months. Heating appliances should be serviced annually to confirm that they are functioning properly. A licensed heating contractor, plumber, or SoCalGas can provide this service.

Failure to perform annual maintenance on gas appliances may result in exposure to carbon monoxide, which can cause nausea, drowsiness, flu-like symptoms, and even death. Since space heating typically accounts for more than half of a monthly winter gas bill, the best way to keep bills lower is to get gas appliances serviced.

Helpful Tips

SoCalGas, the City of Brea, and the Community Energy Partnership*, offer the following tips to promote the safe and efficient operation of your natural gas furnace:

• Have gas furnaces checked at least once a year by a licensed heating contractor, plumber or the gas company.
• Vacuum and clean regularly in and around the furnace, particularly around the burner compartment to prevent a build-up of dust and lint.
• Never store items in, on, or around the appliance that can obstruct airflow.
• Most forced-air units have a filter that cleans the air before heating and circulating it throughout the home. The filter should be checked monthly for lint build-up during periods of furnace use and cleaned or replaced, if necessary.
• When installing a new or cleaned filter, be sure to re-install the front panel door of the furnace properly so it fits snugly. Never operate the furnace without the front-panel door properly in place because doing so may create the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Check the appearance of the flame. If the flame is yellow, large and unsteady, the furnace needs to be inspected immediately by a licensed heating contractor, plumber or the gas company to have the condition corrected.
• Never use ovens, ranges, or outdoor barbecues to heat a home because these appliances are not designed for such use and pose a severe and potentially fatal risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if used for space heating.

Schedule An Appointment

Remember, the time for your furnace maintenance check is before the first big cold snap. Avoid the rush by scheduling your service appointment today. For more information on furnace safety or to schedule a free service appointment, please visit the SoCalGas website.

* This program is funded by California utility customers and administered by Southern California Gas Company and Southern California Edison under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.