Hydro issues warning after spike in odour calls

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This article was published 04/02/2022 (1397 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba Hydro is warning property owners and tenants to clear snow from natural gas meters and sidewall vents to keep homes and businesses safe and warm.

Following heavy snowfall, the public utility has received a spike in calls about gas odours inside homes where vents have become blocked.

Gas pressure inside a building can increase and become unsafe if the vent on a meter’s pancake-shaped regulator is plugged.

“If there is a gas build-up by a blocked event, we need to know about it right away,” said Manitoba Hydro spokesman Bruce Owen. “It’s a safety hazard.”

A gas leak could occur if snow and ice put enough stress on a meter’s pipes.

High-efficiency natural gas furnaces and water heaters use sidewall vents to pull in outside air and emit exhaust. If a vent is blocked, exhaust cannot escape and carbon monoxide can build up inside.

A blockage can also hinder the performance of a furnace and result in a loss of heat.

Manitoba Hydro workers have discovered blocked vents after being called to homes with no heat, said Owen.

In some cases, homeowners have piled snow near meters or vents while shovelling or using a snowblower — a machine that shouldn’t be operated near meters, the Crown utility said.

Property owners and tenants are advised to regularly check meters and vents, and carefully brush snow away using their hand or a broom. Never hit, kick or use a hard object such as a shovel to break away ice or snow on a meter.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching