Check Your Connections

If you have natural gas appliances, when was the last time you thought about the connector that joins the appliance to the gas line?

Older flexible connectors made of uncoated brass can weaken or crack over time, which could lead to a dangerous and deadly gas leak.

Any uncoated brass gas appliance connector should be replaced immediately with a new stainless steel connector.

To industry knowledge, these dangerous connectors have not been made for more than 25 years, but you might still have one in use on an older appliance, including a clothes dryer, water heater, space heater, or stove.

Although not all uncoated brass connectors have this flaw, it is very difficult to tell which ones do. Follow these guidelines to keep your family and home safe:

• Avoid moving natural gas appliances — stressing connectors can cause them to crack and leak.
• Only a qualified professional should check your connector and replace it.
• Avoid repeated use of cleaning solutions or insect sprays around appliance connectors — these solutions can cause corrosion.
• Do not allow wiring or other objects to touch the connector.
• Connectors should always be replaced whenever an appliance is replaced or moved from its location.

Do not move your gas appliances to check the connectors yourself. The connectors can break easily, if moved even slightly, possibly resulting in a deadly fire or explosion. Only a qualified professional should check your connector and replace it if needed.

Learn more:

• Gas Appliance Connector Safety Brochure - By Alliant Energy
• PowerHouse "Natural Gas Safety" Brochure - By Alliant Energy
• Danger! Certain Old Gas Connectors May Be Dangerous - By the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission