How To Detect a Gas Leak
If you use natural gas appliances, the threat of a gas leak can lay heavily on your mind despite the low chances of one happening in your home. Luckily, natural gas is not a silent killer, so to speak. Once you know what to look for, you’ll easily be able to detect a gas leak in your home and safely handle the issue. Look out for these signs of a gas leak.
Rotten Eggs
One of the most noticeable gas leak symptoms is the smell of natural gas: rotten eggs, or sulfur. This is an incredibly unpleasant smell that’s hard to miss in any home. If you smell rotten eggs, immediately take action to turn off the gas and evacuate your home.
Hissing or Whistling Sounds
Sometimes the pressure behind a gas leak can cause a hissing or whistling noise near the gas line. If you hear these kinds of sounds anywhere near a gas line or gas appliance, turn off your natural gas supply right away if you can do so quickly and evacuate your home.
Bubbles in Your Water
Have you ever heard that bubbles in water are a sign of natural gas leaks? It’s true: when gas meets water, it causes bubbles. While this sign isn’t usually the first one homeowners notice, it can be helpful in detecting outdoor gas leaks, as puddles over a damaged gas line will bubble.
Dying Plants
Houseplants aren’t just good for decoration. They can also warn you of a gas leak! If the indoor plants you take care of so well are wilting and beginning to die for seemingly no reason, it could be an indication of natural gas in your home’s air.
Visible Damage
Noticing visible damage to your gas line is one of the most obvious ways to detect a gas leak. Immediately turn off the gas if you can see damage to the gas line. This also includes white clouds or dust clouds near your gas line. You won’t often have a visible sign of gas, but it’s important to take action immediately if you do.
Physical Reactions
Gas leaks can cause physical reactions in you and your family, including:
- Eye and throat irritation
- Breathing difficulties
- Fatigue and drowsiness
- Dizziness and lightheadedness
- Headaches
- Flu-like symptoms
- Nausea and reduced appetite
- Mood changes
- Nosebleeds
If you have pets, they can experience physical symptoms as well and will likely show signs before you do. These may include:
- Mood or behavior changes
- Breathing difficulties
- Disorientation and lethargy
- Loss of appetite and vomiting
- Irritated eyes and throat
If you notice any of these gas leak symptoms in your home, turn the gas supply off if possible and evacuate the house. Once it’s safe, the experts at Norman Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing will perform gas line repair, restoring your home’s gas line system to its full function in no time.
Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment for gas line repair.
