The Natural Gas Leak: What You Need To Know

Though lesser known than other natural disasters, gas leaks can cause hefty damage to your home and bank account. Here’s what you need to know about finding signs of a gas leak.

Signs of a gas leak

Possible signs of a gas leak: It makes your house shake or rumble. You feel sick. The house deflates like a balloon. If you smell a rotten egg smell, that’s the smell of rotten gas. When you can’t breathe, and there’s an unbearable burning sensation, then you have a serious problem. The Natural Gas Relocation Guide has a whole section on gas leakage and what to do when it occurs. You can download it from this page. How do you know if a gas leak is under your home? When you smell gas, smell it. If you can smell it, you know it’s there. It’s like having ants in your kitchen – if you’re unable to detect them, then there’s something wrong.

What to do if there is a gas leak

Keep calm. Take a look around the house. Do not turn off the gas or the main to the house. If you see a white or grayish smudge in the area where the leak is, or a faint hissing sound, call a gas company. Keep everyone away from the area, including pets. Call the gas company. This can be your utility’s number, or one that shows up on your bill. The Water Leak: What You Need To Know You’re more likely to have a water leak in your house than a gas leak, but either way, it’s important to know what you’re dealing with. Most likely, there is a broken water pipe that could cause flooding, but if you’re not sure, call a plumber to check it out. How to find a water leak Look at your water meter. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a meter reader with you when you call.

How to detect a gas leak

When you smell natural gas, you know you’re close to the source. Here’s how to tell whether you have a gas leak: If you are outdoors, you should leave immediately. If you are indoors, open your windows and your doors, close your furnace vents and minimize your activity. If you smell a rotten egg or sulfur smell, leave the building immediately. If you hear a whistling or hissing noise, run outside. If you are not outdoors, then get a clean air source and blow out the area. If you are indoors and a strong odor is present, you can open your windows and doors to ventilate the area and do not use your stove. Stay out of the area and call 911. Once the leak is fixed, you will probably need to call the gas company to make the necessary repairs.

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