A gas leak in your home puts you and your family in danger. The best way to prevent a gas leak is to have your gas burning appliances installed and then inspected annually by a licensed contractor. However, a professional can’t be in your home 24 hours a day, so be on the lookout for signs of a gas leak by relying on your senses.
Smell
Natural gas has no odor by itself, but it is mixed with a substance that smells like rotten eggs. If you smell this odor, it’s time to evacuate your home.
Sight
Occasionally the pressure of gas escaping a pipe, joint or a fixture can cause dust to blow around and water around the leak to bubble. Outside leaks can cause surrounding vegetation to wither and die.
Sound
If you hear a hissing or blowing noise near your gas meter, or around pipes or appliances, a gas leak is probably the cause. Any unusual sounds coming from your gas appliances, such as popping, clicking or rattling should be viewed as a possible leak.
If you detect a gas leak in your home:
Extinguish any open flames in your immediate vicinity, such as cigarettes and candles, and evacuate your home immediately. Do not turn any appliances or lights on or off and do not make any phone calls from inside your home. This can cause sparks, which may ignite the gas. Leave the door open as you exit and use a neighbor’s phone to call a professional to check the leak.
Prevent gas leaks in your home by never moving natural gas appliances. This can cause connections to crack or fail. Never check or repair gas connections yourself. Only a licensed contractor is qualified to inspect, replace or repair gas connections and appliances. Install a carbon monoxide detector near your gas appliances to detect problems before a dangerous situation arises.
If you live in the Twin Cities metro area and want expert advice on how to prevent gas leaks in your home, please contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about gas leaks and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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