Natural Gas Safety, CO Awareness & Gas Line Safety in Regina, SK

Natural Gas Safety – Know the Signs and Stay Safe in Regina

Natural gas is lighter than air and will disperse unless confined. It also requires a very specific fuel-to-air mixture to ignite, making it a relatively safe energy source when installed and maintained properly. But in the event of a leak, recognizing the signs is critical.

👃 Use Your Nose:
Natural gas is naturally odourless. To help with gas leak detection, SaskEnergy adds a chemical that smells like skunk or rotten eggs. If you notice this smell, there may be a leak.

👀 Use Your Eyes:
While you can’t see natural gas, watch for signs like:

• Vapour or mist near the ground
   
• Unexplained dead or brown vegetation
   
• Bubbling water in wet areas
   
• Blowing dust from a hole in dry conditions
   

👂 Use Your Ears:
Listen for a high-pitched hissing or roaring noise near gas lines—this may indicate a natural gas leak.

• Leave the area or home immediately
   
• Do not use electronics, phones, lighters, or vehicles
   
• From a safe location, call SaskEnergy’s 24-hour emergency line at 1-888-700-0427
   
• Do not assume someone else has already reported it
   

The most common way to detect a natural gas leak is by smell. SaskEnergy adds an odourant to help identify leaks early. As an added precaution, consider using a natural gas detector in your home.

Most natural gas detectors also include carbon monoxide detection, offering dual protection. These are suitable for indoor areas like basements or utility rooms. You may also want a second natural gas detector in your garage, but remember: carbon monoxide detectors are not recommended for use in garages. Also, smoke detectors do not detect natural gas.

If your gas detector alarm sounds, follow the same safety steps listed earlier — leave the area immediately and call SaskEnergy at 1-888-700-0427 from a safe location.

To ensure the safe and efficient use of natural gas in your home, follow manufacturer instructions, respect all safety precautions, and have appliances inspected regularly. Proper care helps extend appliance life and maintain safe operation.

Planning to dig? Safety starts with you.
Whether you're a contractor or homeowner in Regina, planning landscaping or major construction, you must know what’s underground. Hitting a buried natural gas line while digging can endanger you and your neighbours and may interrupt emergency services.

Call Sask 1st Call before you dig.
Contact them at least two full working days before starting any outdoor work. They'll mark underground lines for free.

When do you need a line locate?
Always — regardless of the size of the project. Reach out before doing any of the following:

• Fences
   
• Decks or patios
   
• Tree and shrub planting
   
• Water features
   
• Garage or shed foundations
   
• Any concrete work
   

How can you avoid hitting a line?
Don’t guess line depth or assume nothing is there. Lines can be just a few inches deep. Ground settling or added fill can bring them closer to the surface over time.

• Always expose gas lines by hand within one metre of locate flags before using machinery.
   
• Once visible, power tools like augers or backhoes may be used—at a safe distance.
   
• Plant trees at least one metre away from locate markers. For larger trees or machinery, contact SaskEnergy for guidance.
   

What if you’re not digging, just building on the surface?
Even then, know where underground services are. Structures like garages, decks, or sheds built over gas lines can block emergency access. If SaskEnergy needs access and your structure is in the way, you could be liable for the removal cost.

If a line is hit, here’s what can happen:

• Long service outages to nearby customers
   
• Equipment damage
   
• Significant repair costs, including time, materials, emergency response, and even gas loss
   
• Legal consequences and fines
   
• Risk of serious injury or death
   

What to do if you hit a gas line:

DO:

• Leave the area immediately and call SaskEnergy’s emergency line (1-888-700-0427) and 911
   
• Shut off engines and ignition sources
   
• Extinguish any flames
   
• Evacuate buildings and stay upwind
   
• Prevent vehicles or pedestrians from entering the area
   
• Alert nearby occupants, especially if the leak is underground or drifting
   

DON’T:

• Try to stop or repair the leak
   
• Operate electrical switches or equipment
   
• Stay in or near the area
   

By following these precautions and contacting Sask 1st Call before digging, you help keep yourself, your property, and your community safe.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Awareness and Prevention

Carbon monoxide (CO) is odourless, colourless, tasteless, non-irritating, poisonous — and deadly.

It’s produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels like natural gas, propane, kerosene, gasoline, and wood. Without proper ventilation or sufficient air supply, CO can accumulate and become hazardous. Inhaling CO reduces the oxygen in your bloodstream, leading to dizziness, unconsciousness, brain damage — and in high enough concentrations — death.

Common sources of carbon monoxide in the home:

• Corroded or disconnected chimneys on fuel-burning appliances
   
• Using a barbecue indoors
   
• Idling a vehicle in an attached garage
   
• Leaving the garage-to-home door ajar
   
• Unvented or improperly vented heating equipment in garages or shops
   
• Defective furnace heat exchangers
   
• Depressurization from exhaust fans or ventilation changes
   

Signs of CO in your home:

• Air feels stuffy
   
• Excess condensation on windows and walls
   
• Soot stains on appliances or venting
   
• Yellow flame on natural gas appliances instead of blue
   
• Fumes resembling vehicle exhaust
   
• Activated CO detector
   

Symptoms of CO poisoning:

• Dizziness or headache
   
• Burning eyes or nausea
   
• Vomiting
   
• Fatigue or confusion
   
• Loss of muscle control
   

How to reduce CO risk in your home:

• Install carbon monoxide detectors and follow manufacturer instructions for placement, maintenance, and replacement.
   
• Have gas appliances, chimneys, and vents inspected annually by a licensed gas contractor.
   
• Replace furnace filters regularly.
   
• Never run a vehicle in an enclosed garage—even with the door open.
   
• Start fuel-burning tools like snowblowers and lawnmowers outside.
   
• Keep vents and chimneys free from snow, frost, or debris.
   
• Leave a window open when using a wood-burning stove or fireplace until the fire is out.
   
• Keep equipment like barbecues or portable heaters out of enclosed spaces.
   
• Do not run generators inside a home, garage, or enclosed structure.
   
• If making your home more airtight (insulation, new windows, etc.), consult a licensed gas contractor to ensure adequate combustion air is maintained.
   

What to do if your CO detector alarm goes off:

If anyone is experiencing symptoms:

• Leave the home immediately
   
• Call 911 from a safe location
   
• Do not re-enter until the home is deemed safe by professionals
   
• Do not return until the CO source has been identified and corrected
   

If no one has symptoms:

• Turn off all gas appliances
   
• Open windows and doors to ventilate the space
   
• If the alarm stops, call a licensed gas contractor to inspect your appliances
   
• If it continues, check your detector’s batteries or expiration date
   

Other causes of false CO alarms may include:

• Humidity near bathrooms or open windows
   
• Strong cleaning chemicals
   
• Accumulated dust or lint on the sensor
   

If you have an older style furnace or natural gas water heater, it likely vents through a chimney that rises up through your roof. It’s important to routinely check your chimney for obstructions such as debris, nests, or snow buildup, which could block ventilation and pose a carbon monoxide safety risk.