Detecting Gas Leaks
Before you ready the following guidelines, please note that gas leaks can be extremely dangerous. These are meant to serve as general guidelines, but you should always consult a professional when it comes to gas leak concerns. If you are in the Baltimore Maryland area, please call Atlantic Mechanical at 443.213.1804 to find out how we can help you.
Detecting gas leaks
Leaking gas inside the home leads to injuries, and sometimes even death, as it can cause poisoning and might even be the start of an explosion or a fire. This is why detecting gas leaks is so imporant—and preventing them even more so.
Causes of leaks
Understanding the possible causes of a gas leak will help you narrow down the prospective hazards inside your home. A variety of household appliances rely on your gas line, including your heaters, boilers, stoves, tanks, among others, so it’s only natural that leaks will occure between and among these items scatteredaround your home.
Improper or neglected maintenance on appliances as well as the poor fitting of gas lines can lead to leaks. In addition, the appliances themselves could be faulty. It is a good practice to check on your appliances regularly, especially when they’re racking up the years. Vermin can also nibble on the gas lines, eventually causing substantial leaks.
Watch for the signs
There will be telltale signs and even some pretty obvious indicators that there’s a gas leak somewhere—especially where household appliances are involved. Here are some of them:
- a peculiar musty smell, or something that smells similar to a rotten egg
- a yellow or orange flame off your gas range, instead of a solid blue flame
- soot or some scorched sections around certain appliances
- dead plants near certain appliances
- uncharacteristic condensation in the room’s windows
The main giveaway will be the smell of gas in the air. This may be accompanied by dizzy spells and even chest pain, a couple of byproducts of being exposed to the gas. If you’ve already managed to narrow down your suspected leaking appliances, you can look for the leak proactively. First off, ensure that you’re in a well-ventilated area and that there won’t be a source of a spark nearby.
Mix some dishwashing liquid or soap into a small container of water. Turn on the gas and then use a sponge or rag to apply your soapy water mix onto the part where you suspect there’s a leak. If there’s a part that has bubbles appearing on it, then there’s your leak.
What to do after finding the leak
Once you’ve confirmed where the leak is at, if something needs to be repaired, don’t put it off until the next available day. Call gas professionals to help you out so you will have more certainty about the fix. In the meantime, avoid lighting cigarettes or flipping electrical switches on to minimize sparks and the risk of fire. In extreme situations, you need to leave the area right away and dial 911. It would be nice to have the number of the gas emergency service nearest your home.
Nothing, however, beats preventing leaks from occuring in the future. This can be achieved by making sure all appliances and gas lines are well-maintained and installed by accredited and trustworthy professionals. These are all key parts in making sure that you have the highest level of safety within your home.
