Top New York officials are warning Empire State residents about a common item that's  dangerous and potentially deadly."

The New York State DEC is trying to reach out to New York property owners to "prioritize safety" when preparing for home heating needs this fall and winter.

Important Tips For New York Property Owners

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The DEC is reminding property owners that connecting occupied buildings to wells producing natural gas "is dangerous and potentially deadly."

"DEC also encouraged property owners to inspect fuel storage tanks for potential leaks or spills prior to receiving shipments of fuel oil for the upcoming heating season," the DEC tells Hudson Valley Post in a press release. "In addition, DEC urged residents to take steps now to utilize programs designed to save consumers energy and money.

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Natural Gas Safety In New York

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Natural gas produced by a gas or oil well is very difficult or even "impossible to detect" because it is odorless.

Your risk of an explosion due to natural gas build-up at a home is "substantially greater" if the gas is not provided by a utility, according to the DEC.

Tips If Home-Use Well Is Connected To Home Or Other Structure

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  1. Fuel Source: Contact a licensed plumber to switch to utility natural gas or explore other heating options.
  2. Safety: Install methane detection alarms, as natural gas from a well is odorless and can build up without detection.
  3. Odorants: Consider adding mercaptan to your well gas for easy leak detection.

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Tips For Above-Ground Heating Oil Tanks

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For above-ground heating fuel oils storage tanks, look for:

  • Bent, rusty, or unstable tank legs.
  • Rust, wet spots, or dents on the tank.
  • Leaks around the oil filter or valves.
  • Fuel lines without protective casing.
  • Overhanging eaves that could drop snow or ice on the tank.
  • Stains or strong oil odors nearby.
  • Dying or brown vegetation around the tank.
  • A silent overfill whistle during filling—ask the delivery person.
  • Blocked tank vents from snow or nests.
  • Spills around the fill or vent pipes.
  • Improperly sized vent pipes—check with the delivery person.
  • Cracked or frozen fuel level gauges.

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Tips For Underground Tanks

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For underground heating fuel oils storage tanks, look for:

  • Water in the tank—ask the delivery person to check.
  • Oil sheen in your basement sump or drains.
  • A silent overfill whistle—again, check with the delivery person.
  • Blocked tank vents.
  • Spills around fill or vent pipes.
  • Strange tastes or smells in your well water.
  • Complaints from neighbors about fuel odors.
  • Using more fuel than usual.

New York Mob Boss John Gotti's Abandoned Mansion with Secret Room Discovered!

New York Mob Boss John Gotti's Abandoned Mansion with Secret Room Discovered!

WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property. By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing on private property.

NY mob boss John Gotti's mansion sits abandoned in Old Westbury with many possessions still inside. The Gotti compound boasts a main house, a pool/guest house, a garage, a horse stable with an unfinished in-law apartment, an overgrown basketball court, and a triple-level hot tub/pool/swim-up bar. This was the mansion that Gotti's daughter Victoria called home with her 3 sons John, Carmine, and Frank. They filmed the reality show "Growing Up Gotti" here for 3 seasons in 2004 and 2005. After the feds raided the mansion in 2016, it has laid dormant with a lot of possessions left behind. What trespassers found was something no one expected. A hidden room behind a built-in bookshelf. Check it out!

Gallery Credit: YouTube-Kyle McGran

22 Upstate New York Restaurants With A Great "Old School" Vibe!

22 Upstate New York Restaurants With A Great "Old School" Vibe!

What make a restaurant "old school?" Well, it does not mean that it is a n old restaurant, but that helps. Old school is more of a feeling. Snappy, chatty waitresses, homey ambiance, red leather covered swivel stools, huge pancake portions, old photos on the wall, nostalgic music on the jukebox, and more. All of it adds up to an old school vibe that these 22 Upstate New York restaurants definitely have. Some of them are elegant, fine dining eateries, and others are rural diners. All excel in the "old school" category!

Gallery Credit: Chuck DImperio

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