Lubbock, Texas, Jan 16, 2026, 07:34 CST
- Atmos Energy advised Lubbock homeowners tackling post-hail roof repairs to have their natural gas vents and piping checked.
- The utility warned that roof repairs might disrupt vent caps and pipes that release exhaust from gas appliances, increasing the danger of carbon monoxide exposure.
- Atmos urged anyone suspecting a gas leak to leave right away, call 911, and then contact its emergency line.
Atmos Energy Corp on Thursday released safety guidance for Lubbock residents fixing roofs damaged by last year’s hailstorms. The company urged homeowners to have natural gas vents and piping inspected by licensed professionals. Customers were advised to reach out to a licensed plumber or heating contractor to ensure gas appliances and equipment are venting correctly. 1
The warning comes amid ongoing repair work across the city, where roof jobs can displace or cover vent stacks piercing the roof, the company noted. “Recent roofing repairs may affect vent caps and pipes,” said Brandi Price, Atmos Energy’s vice president of public affairs. She stressed, “It is imperative that a licensed professional certify all roofing repair work.” 2
Carbon monoxide, or CO, is an invisible, odorless gas that can lead to severe injury or death, warns the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It tends to accumulate indoors if fuel-burning appliances aren’t properly vented. 3
The U.S. Fire Administration advises placing CO alarms outside every sleeping area and on each floor of a home. It also stresses the importance of keeping vents for dryers, furnaces, stoves, and fireplaces free from debris. 4
Atmos recommends that customers ensure their gas appliances are properly adjusted. They also advise running an exhaust fan vented outdoors when using gas stoves and opening flues whenever fireplaces are in operation. 5
If residents suspect a natural gas leak, Atmos urges them to leave the area at once and, once safely away, call 911 as well as its 24-hour toll-free emergency number at 866.322.8667. The company also warns against relying solely on smell, advising customers to be alert for other signs by watching and listening. 6
Atmos, an S&P 500 firm based in Dallas, provides service to over 3 million distribution customers in more than 1,400 communities spanning eight states, according to its investor relations website. 7
Atmos revealed in its latest annual report that it poured $3.6 billion into upgrading its natural gas distribution and transmission networks in fiscal 2025, funneling roughly 87% of that spending toward safety and reliability. CEO J. Kevin Akers emphasized the company’s goal to become the “safest provider of natural gas services.” 8
