Brooklyn Company Urges New Yorkers to Practice Natural Gas Safety

Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, Inc. offers natural gas safety tips and asks that New Yorkers only allow trained, fully-licensed professionals to work on their gas appliances

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – July 24, 2018 – Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, Inc., a family owned business servicing the Brooklyn area for more than 100 years, is offering safety tips regarding gas appliances and urging untrained New York residents not to perform any kind of gas work on their own.

“Unfortunately, Brooklyn mourned a fatal gas explosion in 2015, and already this year we had four neighbors injured in a January residential gas explosion and three National Grid workers injured in a June public gas explosion,” said Michael Petri, owner of Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning. “We’re working to educate the public and urge homeowners to never attempt any gas work on their own, and to please contact a qualified professional immediately if you detect a leak.”

Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning offers the following advice regarding the use of natural gas in the home:

• Never move or install a gas appliance yourself. Only a certified professional should ever install or relocate a gas appliance, such as an oven or furnace. Attempting to do so yourself could result in improper gas line disconnection, a dangerous leak or worse.
• Use gas appliances properly and safely. Gas appliances should always be properly vented to allow carbon monoxide to safely escape, and they should never be used for anything other than their intended purpose. For example, never use a gas stove or oven to add heat to the home.
• Schedule annual inspections. All homes utilizing natural gas should schedule annual inspections. A professional will check the lines to make sure they are showing no signs of wear or leaking, and they will also check vents and flues to make sure there are no blockages or issues.
• Detect an odor? Call a professional immediately. Natural gas is odorless, so a scent similar to rotten eggs is added to aid in detecting leaks. If you smell natural gas in the home, do not try to locate or stop the leak. Refrain from switching any electrical devices on or off, get out of the home immediately and contact a professional from a safe distance.

New York state law currently mandates that anyone wishing to perform gas work possess either a Full or Limited Gas Work Qualification. Full Gas Work Qualifications are currently presented only to those registered as a Journeyman Plumber or higher, and Limited Gas Work Qualifications must be applied for through a detailed vetting process. These qualifications will be updated with more stringent requirements beginning January 1, 2019.

“There are good reasons that the qualifications to perform gas work are being made more difficult to attain,” Petri said. “Our fellow New Yorkers deserve to live in safety, and they should only allow fully-licensed professionals to install or service their gas appliances.”

For more information about natural gas safety and the laws governing gas work in New York, please visit www.petriplumbing.com or call 718-748-1254.

About Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, Inc.

Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, Inc. is a family owned and operated business serving Brooklyn and the New York City area. Founded in 1906, the company offers a 100 percent guarantee on all services, upfront pricing, and friendly and knowledgeable Service Experts for all kinds of home and business plumbing and heating needs. Services offered include water and gas pipe leak repair and installation, fixture installations, inspections, boiler repair, water heater installation, complete bathroom, kitchen, laundry & utility room remodeling and more. Petri is also licensed and certified by Green Plumbers USA, the first in New York City to receive this designation. For more information, please visit www.petriplumbing.com or call 718-748-1254.

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