How To Deal With Gas Leaks

Millions of households in Canada and around the world use natural gas as it is a convenient source of energy for cooking and heating purposes. The safety of natural gas is another reason why it is preferred by a lot of people. A professional gas fitting company can ensure maximum safety by providing reliable and efficient services.

However, if you are not relying on the experts, there are certain things that can go wrong and can even make the usage of natural gas unsafe. It can cause serious issues for your health and overall property.

Therefore, it is important for you to be familiar with how to detect gas leaks and repair them. It will facilitate you in avoiding the different dangers associated with gas leaks.

What Is A Natural Gas Leak?

Natural gas is a source of fossil energy. It is composed of methane, non-hydrocarbon gasses, and various other natural gas liquids. There are many instances in which a natural gas leak can occur. For instance, if the gas line or appliance is not properly installed or has gotten damaged.

Generally, natural gas leaks are common with old gas lines that are suffering from corrosion and wear and tear.

Dangerous Effects Of A Gas Leak

Natural gas is non-toxic, but there are many different dangerous effects of a gas leak that you can face in certain conditions, such as:

• Dizziness when a high concentration of natural gas is present in a limited space
• If some flammable mixtures are exposed to open air with natural gas, they can explode
• Damage trees and houseplants
• Greater gas bills as the gas appliances will not be properly working when gas is leaking
• Expensive property damage

If you want to avoid these effects of gas leakage, you should contact professional gas fitters in Calgary to let the experts take care of your gas pipes and appliances.

Detecting A Gas Leak

There are certain strategies that you can use to detect gas leaks quickly:

1. Check For The Smell Of Rotten Eggs

Most natural gasses are colourless and odourless in nature. However, natural gas companies add an additive called mercaptan to the gas to give it a special smell. This smell is similar to the smell of rotten eggs or sulphur.

Hence, it can be detected easily in your home. If you are smelling this kind of odour, you should immediately contact a professional gas fitter technician to help you out.

2. Hissing Noise

If you are hearing excessive hissing or whistling noises from a gas line, there is a high chance that there might be a significant leak in it. Focus on the part from where you hear the noise.

For instance, if you are hearing a hissing noise from near the AC unit, it might be a symptom of a damaged refrigerant line or a leaking valve. Whatever the reason might be, a professional gas fitter can easily identify the root cause of the leakage and resolve the issue.

Also Read: Simple Tips For Boiler Maintenance

3. Examine The Stove

A gas stove that is working with maximum efficiency and performance will give off a blue flame. However, if the stove is giving off orange or red flames, it means that the gas is leaking from the stove and there is a lack of oxygen in it.

4. Use A Gas Leak Detector

Using a gas leak detector is the quickest and most efficient method of detecting leaks. There are many gas leak detectors, but it is highly recommended that you call the professionals for a thorough inspection of your gas pipes and appliances to ensure you are completely safe from the dangers posed by gas leaks.

5. Perform A Soapy Water Test

Performing a simple soapy water test is another common method to detect gas leaks. It involves mixing a teaspoon of soap with a cup of water to create a concentrated solution and saturate the area in which you think that gas is leaking. If the bubbles show up in the solution, it shows that gas is leaking in the area.

What To Do If Gas Is Leaking

If you suspect that gas is leaking on your property, the best thing to do in such a situation is to call professional gas fitters and plumbers. Regular maintenance will also ultimately help you avoid such issues from happening in the first place.

Professional plumbers have a thorough insight into different types of gas pipes and appliances. As a result, they are able to detect and fix gas leaks quickly.

About Jack’d Up Plumbing

Jack’d Up Plumbing is a certified plumbing company in Calgary. We provide all types of plumbing services, including gas fitting and repair services. You can contact us anytime if you are in search of professional plumbers to deal with gas leaks.