Snow and Ice on the Gas Meter: Clear It Gently, and When to Call the Utility

The gas meter on the side of your house has a regulator that keeps the gas reaching your furnace and water heater at the right pressure, and it breathes through a small vent. Minnesota's Office of Pipeline Safety explains the winter risk: "Ice or snow can block the meter's regulator vent and cause a malfunction. A meter malfunction could lead to a possible gas leak, fire or explosion, or an interruption in service." Clearing it takes a minute with a broom, as long as you do it gently.

Why It Matters

• A blocked vent upsets the pressure. UGI says that if the regulator vent is blocked, gas pressure to the home "could either increase to a dangerous level or decrease preventing natural gas from flowing to your natural gas appliances." Enbridge Gas Ohio says it "could lead to a loss of heat, a fire or even an explosion."
• Weight breaks pipes. UGI warns that a large amount of snow on the meter "could lead to broken pipes and gas leaks," and Enbridge says buildup "can also damage your natural gas meter's piping."
• Dripping water refreezes on it. Minnesota's pipeline office notes that "gas meters that ice up regularly are typically below a roof's drip line."

How to Clear It

1. Use your hands, a broom, or a soft brush. Nicor: "Use your hands or a broom, not a shovel." DTE: "Remove snow and ice carefully by hand, brush or broom." Enbridge: "gently clear snow or ice with a soft broom or brush."
2. Clear the regulator and its vent. Brush snow off the top and sides of the meter, the regulator, and the pipes, gently.
3. Clear the appliance vents too. Nicor says to check that outdoor vent openings and air intakes for the furnace and water heater "are not obstructed by snow and ice to ensure the safe, proper operation of natural gas appliances… and to prevent the potentially hazardous buildup of carbon monoxide." See a furnace vent blocked by snow.
4. Keep a path open. Enbridge: "Keep a clear path to your meter for readings and emergencies."

What Never to Do

• No shovels, snow blowers, or plows against it. Enbridge says never to use "sharp objects, a shovel or a blower," and the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission says not to strike meters with snow blowers, blades, or shovels. Minnesota's pipeline office: "Using a snow blower near a gas meter can be dangerous."
• No kicking or hitting it to break ice. Nicor: "Never kick or hit your gas meter or its piping with a hammer or other hard object."
• No hot water, salt, or ice melt. DTE: "Do not use sharp objects, salt, ice-melting chemicals or hot water." UGI says the same, adding plows and snow blowers.

If the Meter Is Encased in Ice

Leave it and call the utility. Enbridge says to call "to report icing buildup—we'll take care of it for you. Do not try to melt or break the ice yourself." National Fuel says the same about a meter encased in ice, and Minnesota's pipeline office says to call your utility if you're concerned the regulator vent may be blocked.

Prevent It

• Deal with what's above it. Enbridge says to remove large icicles hanging above or on the meter and vents, and UGI says to clear snow and ice from the roof above the meter so falling snow or ice doesn't damage it. National Fuel urges caution when removing icicles over a meter. Use a roof rake from the ground, never a ladder on ice. A gutter that overflows onto the meter is worth fixing; see ice dams.
• Make it visible. If the meter sits near a driveway or sidewalk, Enbridge and UGI say to make sure it's visible to snowplow drivers, and National Fuel says to tell anyone shoveling, plowing, or snow blowing nearby where it is.
• Check after every storm. A quick look after heavy snow or a freezing rain catches buildup before it blocks the vent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it dangerous if snow covers my gas meter?

It can be. Gas utilities and Minnesota's pipeline safety office say snow or ice can block the regulator vent, which can cause a malfunction, a leak, or a loss of heat, and heavy buildup can damage the piping. Brush it off gently by hand or with a broom.

Can I use a shovel to clear around the meter?

Not on the meter itself. Nicor says to use your hands or a broom, not a shovel, and Enbridge rules out shovels and blowers. Clear the surrounding path carefully, keeping blades and snow blowers away from the meter and its pipes.

Can I pour hot water on an iced-over meter?

No. DTE and UGI both say not to use hot water, salt, or ice-melting chemicals. If the meter is encased in ice, call your gas utility; Enbridge and National Fuel say not to try to break or melt it yourself.

What if I hit the meter with a snow blower or shovel?

Treat it as damage. Nicor says that if a meter is damaged, leave the area and call 911 or the utility's emergency line from a safe location, and the South Dakota PUC says to call your gas provider and 911 if you believe there's damage or smell gas.

The Bottom Line

After a storm, brush snow off the gas meter, regulator, and appliance vents with your hands or a soft broom, and keep a path to it. Never shovel, kick, chip, or pour hot water on it. If it's encased in ice, call the utility; if you smell gas or it's damaged, leave and call 911 and the utility from a safe distance.

Sources

• Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety — keep your gas meter clear (blocked regulator vent can cause a malfunction, leak, fire, or loss of service; hand or small broom; snow blowers near meters; drip line; call the utility).
• Enbridge Gas Ohio — keep your meter clear (pressure control; piping damage; soft broom or brush; no sharp objects, shovels, or blowers; no hitting or kicking; call about icing, don't melt or break it; clear path; icicles; visible to plows; blocked vents and carbon monoxide).
• Nicor Gas — cold weather safety tips (hands or a broom, not a shovel; never kick or hit the meter; check vents and air intakes; damaged meter: leave and call 911 or the emergency line).
• DTE Energy — meter clearing (by hand, brush, or broom; no sharp objects, salt, ice melt, or hot water; careful with shovels, snow blowers, and plows; icicles above the meter; clear vents).
• UGI — winter meter safety (blocked vent raises or cuts pressure; heavy snow can break pipes; no plows, snow blowers, salt, hot water, or ice melt; clear the roof above; visible to plows).
• National Fuel — bad weather conditions (call if the meter is encased in ice; don't break or melt it; caution with icicles; tell people working nearby where the meter is).
• South Dakota Public Utilities Commission — natural gas meter safety (broom, snow brush, or hands; don't kick it or strike it with blowers, blades, or shovels; dripping water; heavy ice: contact the provider; suspected damage or gas smell: call the provider and 911).

Last reviewed October 24, 2026. General information, not professional advice — the meter, regulator, and service piping belong to your gas utility, and anything past the meter to a licensed plumber or gas fitter.

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