Keep Your Home Safe From Natural Gas Leaks This National Wellness Month

Identifying and Safely Dealing With Gas Leaks

Many homes rely on natural gas for heating, hot water, and appliances, making natural gas an important component of daily life. But while natural gas is often delivered and supplied safely within each home, there is still the possibility that it may leak, causing physical symptoms that may include headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, eye irritation, and skin blisters.

Because the health and safety risks associated with gas leaks are serious, it is recommended that homeowners who experience these gas leak symptoms open their windows immediately, vacate the property, and call for help right away. This awareness is a crucial step to saving lives in the event of a gas leak, but there are other steps that homeowners may take to ensure that they get themselves out of harm’s way in the nick of time. This post will share common signs of a gas leak and how to respond.

Knowing the Signs of a Gas Leak

When detecting a gas leak, one of the most important things a homeowner can do is listen to their bodies. The nose, in particular, can be crucial in detecting a gas leak since natural gas usually has a foul, rotten egg smell added that gets released into the air. This is caused by mercaptan, a harmless chemical added to natural gas that helps people identify if it has leaked into the atmosphere. 

Being an odorless gas, natural gas benefits from this addition because it helps alert people of a leak. While the nose may be the first to be alerted to a gas leak, the rest of the body may be close behind. Health symptoms of a gas leak may follow, causing issues like headaches, nausea, and difficulty breathing. 

Another way to tell if gas may be leaking is by looking at the monthly gas bill. If it is higher than normal, it may be because of a gas leak. Other signs may include a faint hissing sound, dead plants along the gas lines, and even, in some instances, a visible white mist or fog in areas around the house.

What to Do in the Event of a Gas Leak

Noticing any of these gas leak signs warrants an immediate evacuation of the home. As homeowners exit, they are advised not to turn on any lights or electrical devices to prevent a spark and leave windows and doors open to prevent the gas from building up inside the home. 

Once homeowners and their families are clear of the premises, the next thing to do is immediately call for help from local gas leak repair professionals, who will be able to respond to this emergency, shut off the gas lines, locate the leak, and quickly proceed with the gas line repair. 

Solutions to a Gas Leak

When dealing with a gas leak, staying calm and contacting professionals to handle the problem are two of the most important things. Professional plumbers licensed to repair gas leaks and who have the necessary equipment and experience are best equipped to handle the dangerous gas leak and repair the gas line. 

The good news is that homes can be made safer from this hazard by installing preventative measures such as a gas leak detector, which alerts homeowners to gas leaks. Homes with a carbon monoxide detector may only rely on those to detect gas leaks if they are of a specific model also designed to detect a gas leak. Otherwise, a separate gas leak detector should be installed.

About Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing

Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing is a family-owned and operated company serving Sparks and the surrounding areas. They offer upfront service, competitive pricing, and reliable solutions. Call them today for gas line repair and installation in Sparks, NV. 

• 
  +