24-Hour Emergency Services

What is an emergency?

This question has many answers depending on the situation. The most important question is the level of the emergency with a gas leak and carbon monoxide being the most dangerous. If you suspect either of those then you should act immediately! The statement below from City Utilities of Springfield says it all and regardless of where you get your utilities from you need to be aware of how you would handle a situation like this and who you would call.

STOP what you are doing.
‍MOVE at least 3 light poles or 300 feet away.
‍CALL 911 or CU at (417) 863-9000.It’s FREE and available 24/7.

Know the Signs of a Natural Gas Leak

Natural gas is a clean-burning, efficient fuel that is naturally odorless and colorless. To assist with leak detection, City Utilities adds a foul-smelling odorant to natural gas before delivering it to customers. If you smell rotten eggs, see unexpected dead vegetation or hear hissing from a natural gas line, there may be a natural gas leak. Our natural gas brochure offers a guide to safe and reliable natural gas use.

If You Suspect a NaturalGas Leak:

• DO NOT use matches, lighters, cigarettes or e-cigs.
• DO NOT turn on or off electrical switches, appliances or lights.
• DO NOT use a phone or electronic device.
• DO NOT ring the doorbell.

It is important for everyone in your family to recognize the smell of natural gas. Not sure of the smell? Call (417) 863-9000 to request a scratch and sniff card.  Natural gas detectors are recommended for individuals with diminished or no sense of smell.

Most gas detectors plug into an electrical outlet and must be mounted on the wall. Check with local home building stores for purchase and follow the recommended guidelines for installation.

Carbon monoxide is another potential risk associated with gas appliances and is the main reason you should have your HVAC system checked annually to be sure it’s operating properly. If you have gas appliances of any kind in your home, you should have Carbon Monoxide detectors installed to make you aware of any problems. The CDC has some very good information about carbon monoxide and your home, https://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs

The next level of plumbing emergency is water leaks and backed up sewers. While these aren’t as dangerous as a gas leak or carbon monoxide, they can require immediate attention to limit the damage as much as possible. Knowing where your main water shut off is located is the first step when you have a water leak so that you can shut the water off until the issue can be resolved. Many time you may be able to isolate a leak to a single fixture that you can shut off and schedule a repair.

• Resource: Locating the water shut off valve.
• Resource: Busted Pipe? Shut off the water in two steps.

Backed up drain lines and sewers can also cause damage to your home or business but knowing the difference between a nuisance and emergency can save you money. While a backed-up toilet or sink can be annoying it may not be an emergency if the rest of your drains are functioning normally whereas a completely backed up sewer causing sewage to back up into your home would be something that needs immediate attention.

At Lorenz our goal is to have technicians available 24 hours a day to provide service to our customers anytime they need it, but we also try to help manage not only the situation, but also the costs associated with resolving that issue. In many cases it is more cost effective, if possible, to wait until the next day to resolve “non-emergency” issues. Our technicians are available to not only respond on site to resolve issues but to also talk through them to help you decide the best options for your situation.