What Can You Do If You Have A Gas Leak?

Many homes use gas for their cooking and heating purposes. But what if you have a gas leak and cannot figure out how to handle it? Your first instinct will be to call your gas company, but sometimes that doesn’t work because they may not know right away what the problem is or they will be unable to send someone quickly to your home.

This useful post will go over a few things you can do to keep your family safe and minimise the risk of something going wrong while you wait for help.

If you are in any doubt about anything pertaining to a gas leak, contact your local fire department or other emergency services immediately as they can help.

Properties Of Natural Gas And LPG

Natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are two different products with unique properties. Both can be used for cooking and heating.

Gas is mostly colourless and odourless, but it can also have a mild odour, like rotten eggs. On the other hand, LPG is primarily colourless but has a strong gasoline-like odour.

Signs Of Gas Leaks:

• It smells like rotten eggs.
• Hissing sound.
• Buzzing or blowing sound.
• When you stick your head out the window, you hear loud noises, feel a strong wind, or see bright lights (this means someone is working on the gas line).
• Dim lights or flickering lights that flicker faster than usual (the cause of this will be the gas pressure).
• Sparks from electrical equipment.
• There are other signs of a gas leak, but anyone in the household could also quickly notice these.
• A gas leak can cause breathing issues.
• You can get drunk too.

How To Detect LPG Leakage

There are a few warning signs of LPG leakage. Let’s learn how to detect a LPG leak.

Using Your Nose

If you smell gas, immediately check everything near the suspect area to confirm that there is a leak. If you still suspect a leak, call the gas company, your local fire department or both.

Higher Gas Bills

You may notice that your gas bill is increasing after the leak happens. The LPG supply company will check your meter and add a special fee to cover their costs.

Flame Colour

A flame that’s the same colour as the gas you’re using is normal. For example, if you use propane gas for your fires, there should only be yellow and orange flames. If you see blue or white flames coming from your fireplace or heater, you have a gas leak.

Dead Or Dying Plants Or Trees

If you notice that your plants or trees are dying off, it’s a sign that the gas vapours are killing off their roots.

Feeling Unwell Due To Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Suppose you feel exhausted or nauseous after using your gas appliances. Try to stay away from the leak until the gas company can figure out what’s happening.

What If The Leak Is Outside Your Home?

If the leak is outside your house, does that mean it’s a good idea just to run out to help? Not necessarily. If you do that, you are putting yourself at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. Gas companies will be on the lookout for people who run into danger like this, so tell an adult where you’re going and wear a mask.

If someone else is in charge of the leak outside your home, it’s probably best to stay away from the scene until it’s fixed.

Conclusion

As we can see in the article, we have listed several warning signs which are  essential for everyone to learn and remember because gas leaks can occur at any time on your property.

When you notice any of the above signs, you should not wait for help. Call us on 02 9067 9553 immediately, as it could be dangerous.