Gas Leak Response: Safety Tips in Honor of National Wellness Month

How to Handle Gas Leaks Safely

With around 48% of homes in the U.S. relying on natural gas as fuel to heat their homes and power some of their appliances, natural gas has become a regular household staple. But while natural gas can allow homeowners to cook their meals, heat their homes, and even enjoy relaxing hot showers, the presence of natural gas at home does pose some risk, especially since a gas leak could cause serious health and safety problems. This is why homeowners must know how to handle gas leaks safely. This blog post will share warning signs of a gas leak, how to respond, and how a plumber can fix them. 

Easy to Spot Signs of a Gas Leak

Awareness and understanding of the different gas leak symptoms are important for homeowners to ensure they stay safe at home. Here are some of the things to watch out for to quickly determine if a gas leak is indeed present at home:

• Gas leak smell: If there’s a rotten egg smell around the house, then it could be a sign of a gas leak. While natural gas is odorless in its original form, the version distributed to homes contains a harmless chemical called mercaptan, which gives natural gas its foul, rotten egg smell. It is added as a safety precaution, alerting people to the presence of a gas leak.
• Physical symptoms: People exposed to gas leaks can also experience physical symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. These symptoms can indicate a gas leak, especially when combined with other indicators.
• Higher than normal gas bills: A gas bill that far exceeds what a household typically consumes every month, especially if there have been no changes in consumption, is a sure indicator of gas leaking.
• Hissing sound: While a hissing sound isn’t always present with a gas leak, it could be a valuable indicator of a gas leak.
• Dead plants: Homeowners who notice that plants located near their gas lines are slowly dying can chalk this up to gas leak exposure.

Here’s What to Do Next

Gas leaks are a serious threat to health and safety, so homeowners who notice any signs of a gas leak should vacate the property immediately, leaving doors and windows open and not touching any electronics or light switches on the way out to prevent sparks that could catch fire.

Once they and everyone in the home have reached a safe distance from the house, it is essential to call 911 or the gas company right away to report the leak and a plumbing company that works on gas lines to repair it. Under no circumstance should homeowners come back inside their homes until proper gas leak detection has been conducted and gas leak repair completed.

Get the Help of Pros

Professional plumbers can help detect and repair a leak in the gas line. Once the gas line has been turned off, they are often the first on the scene to repair the damaged pipelines properly. Not only do they have the proper equipment and training to handle gas leak detection, but they also have the experience and knowledge to help ensure the repair is a success and that homes are safe.

However, homeowners should also consider installing a gas leak detector to protect them from future gas leaks by alerting them right away. This device can detect the presence of a gas leak, helping homeowners who do not immediately recognize the signs and symptoms of a leak. 

About Magic Plumbing

Magic Plumbing is a plumbing and HVAC company that has been serving San Francisco and the surrounding areas since 1980. They offer convenient scheduling, personal attention, and honest, upfront service. Call them today for gas line repair and gas leak detection in San Francisco, CA.

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