Gas Leak Repair & Prevention
A gas leak in your home is a serious hazard. If you think you smell natural gas but are unsure, don’t take chances, call a certified plumber immediately. Your utility company can detect gas leaks in your home and shut off your gas, but a plumber can identify and repair them on the spot.
Short-term contact with natural gas is relatively harmless, but long-term exposure can lead to serious health risks. Large gas leaks can also lead to fire and explosion. If you detect a strong gas smell in your home, exit immediately and call a professional. Do not use your phone in your home or turn on lights. The spark could ignite an explosion.
What Causes a Gas Leak?
The most common cause of a gas leak is a stove or oven pilot light that’s gone out. Luckily, electric pilots and added safeguards prevent this from happening in newer appliances. If you smell a gas odor in your kitchen, check your pilot lights first.
More serious gas leaks are usually the result of worn or faulty plumbing connections on appliances like water heaters, dryers and boilers. Over time, the valves and connections that supply the gas can corrode and wear. If these appliances were not professionally installed or if they haven’t been well-maintained, they can develop leaks sooner rather than later.
If you live in an older home, have your gas and water lines checked periodically. While copper pipes can last fifty years or more, deterioration is a natural process. Keep your plumbing up to date.
How to Detect a Gas Leak
The most obvious sign of a gas leak is the sulfur smell. Natural gas is odorless by nature, so your utility company adds another gas called mercaptan to it which gives it the rusty “rotten egg” smell. This is done to make natural gas leaks easy to detect.
Other signs of gas leaks in your home include:
- A red or yellow flame on your gas appliances rather than a crisp blue one.
- Scorch marks on gas appliances.
- Whistling sound from gas lines.
- Increase in gas bill.
You can confirm the existence of a gas leak by spraying a solution of soapy water on the suspected area. If the soap bubbles up, you have gas leaking out. You can also buy an electronic gas leak detector to identify the presence of different gases in your home.
What to Do if You Detect a Gas Leak
Depending on the severity of your gas leak, follow these steps:
Leave your home. If you have any doubt about the severity of your gas leak, exit your home and call a professional. Also leave if you experience any of these symptoms:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Difficulty breathing
Open windows and doors. Vent the gas fumes until the issue is resolved.
Refrain from using electronic devices. Phones, computers and any electronic device could create a spark that ignites built up gas.
Turn off gas meter. If you know where your gas meter is, find the shut off valve to prevent any more gas from leaking into your home.
Have your home inspected. A certified plumber or utility worker can identify the source of your gas leak and determine how to resolve it.
Make all necessary repairs. Don’t resume normal life until you’ve been given the green light from a certified technician who has verified that all your gas leaks have been repaired.
Gas Leak Detection Services: Dallas and Beyond
No matter where you are in the Dallas metro area, we have an office conveniently located near you. Our fully certified team is always ready to address gas leaks and all your plumbing emergencies. Our areas of service include:
Trust Benjamin Franklin Plumbers to Repair Your Gas Leak
When you catch a whiff of that gas leak smell call or contact Benjamin Franklin right away. We’re your go-to experts for detecting, locating and repairing gas leaks in the Dallas, TX area.