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For mild leaks, turn pilot lights off, open your windows, and contact your gas company. They'll tell you what to do and whether the gas meter needs to be turned off. If you're noticing symptoms or a strong odor, leave your home immediately. Remember that gas is volatile and can cause an explosion.
Jun 14, 2022 · The free service will map out any utilities, including gas pipelines, buried beneath your land. Striking a pipeline can endanger your life since the gas is highly explosive and could disrupt natural gas service to surrounding homes. Natural gas pipeline leaks and explosions cause about 17 deaths in the U.S. every year [source: Jackson et al.].
- Natural gas has a rotten, sulfuric odor that alerts homeowners about the possibility of a natural gas leak. This smell is intentionally added to se...
- If you suspect there’s a gas leak in your home, stop whatever you are doing and go outside. If you inhale it in higher amounts, it can cause asphyx...
- Yes, it is. A small gas leak can still catch on fire and trigger an explosion from another fire source or electrical spark.
- A stove leak is more dangerous than you might think. If you suspect one, avoid touching the appliances or turning them on. Vacate your home and cal...
- Being exposed to a gas leak for a long time can cause a number of symptoms, including headaches, nausea and weakness. If you feel abnormal or sick,...
Carbon monoxide poisoning can result from a carbon monoxide ; symptoms include headaches, nausea, and confusion. can cause people to pass out and can eventually lead to death. In most cases, a won’t be easily spotted by the eye. This is because most leaking gasses are invisible. This is part of the reason why are so dangerous — one of the ...
- Overview
- How to tell if your symptoms are due to a gas leak
- Another cause for similar symptoms
- What to do if you suspect a gas leak
- Life after a gas leak
- How to prevent gas leaks
- Bottom line
Gas leaks can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, eye irritation, and skin blisters. It can also become difficult to breathe. Open your windows and call for help immediately.
Many homes use natural gas for heat, hot water, and appliances. Natural gas has no smell, which means a small leak would be impossible to detect.
A hissing sound is not always present, either. That’s why your utility company adds mercaptan, a harmless chemical, to the gas. Mercaptan smells like sulfur, or rotten eggs, to help you identify gas leaks. But you may not smell anything if the leak is very small.
Evacuate the area immediately if you experience the following:
•smell sulphur or something like rotten eggs
•hear a hissing or whistling sound near a gas line
Gas leaks change the amount of oxygen available. As you breathe in less oxygen, you may start to develop symptoms. If you or others in your family experience sudden and unexplained symptoms, there could be a gas leak in your home.
Here are the symptoms you should look for:
•headache
•dizziness
•nausea
•eye and throat irritation
Other air contaminants can cause symptoms similar to those of gas leak poisoning. If there are no gas leaks, check for other indoor air contaminants such as carbon monoxide or mold.
Incompletely burnt gas can release carbon monoxide, another dangerous gas that can affect your health. If you use natural gas for heating or hot water, make sure to install a carbon monoxide detector in the home.
The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
•tiredness
•nausea and dizziness
•headache
Observe your symptoms as you leave the house or move between rooms. If you notice that headaches reappear after you return home, you are likely dealing with a gas leak or another type of air contaminant.
For mild gas odor, you should open up the windows, make sure pilot lights are off, and call your gas company. They’ll advise you on the next steps. You can also turn the gas meter off if you know how.
For strong gas odor or situations that cause symptoms, exit your home or leave the area immediately. Gas is extremely volatile. If you have had a leak in your home for a while, there is an increased risk of explosion.
Call the emergency number for your utility company. But make the call away from the area of the suspected gas leak. Phones can create sparks, which may ignite the gas. Also, head to the emergency room, or call an ambulance if your symptoms are severe.
What to do
•let an inspector locate and fix your leak •air out your house before returning •have outside pipelines inspected Was this helpful? Ideally, a house inspector will let you know when it’s safe to return. Even if the leak was only on the inside, you should also have someone inspect outside pipelines. Leaks that occur outside your home are equally dangerous.
Health effects
While exposure to low levels of natural gas is not harmful, long-term exposure can affect your health. Burning natural gas produces nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and methane. These chemicals can trigger respiratory problems, depression, and decrease the quality of your health. Talk to your doctor if you believe the gas leak is affecting your health.
Leaks can occur from oversights during gas line installation, or they can be a consequence of old pipelines and appliances. Have your appliances and pipelines inspected yearly.
The service is usually free of charge. One thing that you need to do if using gas is to educate yourself and your family about natural gas safety. Remember what to look for in case of a leak or if someone experiences gas poisoning symptoms.
While natural gas leaks are rare, they can happen both inside and outside of your home.
If you use gas burning appliances or use natural gas for heating, make sure to have yearly inspections. Gas leaks, while dangerous, are preventable.
- Daniela Ginta
Feb 26, 2024 · Natural gas is typically piped in from municipal utility lines. Propane is delivered and stored in tanks on residential properties. Both are odorless and colorless originally, so smell additives help detect leaks quickly. Common Causes of Gas Leaks. Firstly, there are a few primary causes of household gas leaks to be aware of:
The natural gas gets pressurized in the lines that are linked to the homes. The gas also gets pressurized inside the furnace’s heat exchanger. When there is a gas leak, the pressure of the gas leak will cause a hissing noise. The best way to spot this sound is to occasionally listen for gas leaks when you’re not using the furnace.
People also ask
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Jul 25, 2023 · Small gas leaks may not have a smell or other physical signs. However, if there is a gas leak in the home, a person may notice: the smell of sulfur or rotten eggs. a hissing or whistling sound ...
