Any time you operate a natural gas powered appliance in the home, there is a potential for gas leaks. Professional installation and maintenance should be enough to keep these units in check, but accidents still do happen. If you have ever had a leak in your home, you have probably experienced the odor that is emitted when gas is leaking.
Although it may be unpleasant, the smell emitted by natural gas is often the signal that alerts the homeowner to the presence of the leak in the first place. Without it, explosions and fires would be an even more common occurrences in this country. However, if you miss the alert, the consequences could be very severe. So, we have provided some other ways that you can detect gas leaks and a list of things you should and should not do when you suspect a gas leak in the home.
What You can Hear, See, and Smell
- Hearing a Gas Leak: Gas leaks often result from tiny holes or gaps in piping that carries gas to the appliances of the home. These types of leaks will often cause a hissing noise from the gas escaping.
- Seeing a Gas Leak: Gas leaks will create a haze in the air or a fog like cloud that you should be able to see fairly easily.
- Smelling a Gas Leak: If you have a gas powered stove, you may have recognized the smell off gas escaping when the burners attempt to ignite. However, if you have never smelt natural gas before, pay attention to any unusual smells that come from gas powered appliances. Call a professional to help you determine whether or not there is a leak, and it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Call for Help!
If you think that you may have a gas leak in your home, you should get everyone out of the home immediately. There has been a lot of mixed advice floating around on this issue, but here are some of the do’s and don’ts that have been provided by trusted government sources:
- Do not try to find the leak on your own
- Do not use any electrical appliances because they may create a spark and ignite the leaking gas
- Do not light matches, lighters, candles, or any other flame
- Do evacuate the home
- Do call the gas company of the fire department for an emergency inspection of your home, but call from a cell phone or neighbor’s house phone. Your home phone may create an electrical spark.
You may hear advice that tells you to locate the main gas shut off valve and to open windows and doors for ventilation, but when there is gas leaking in the home it can ignite an explosion at any moment. Do not take unnecessary risks with your safety. The sooner you call for help, the sooner you will be able to have the problem taken care of and your home restored to its original state.