How To Identify A Gas Leak And What To Do In The Event Of One

Natural gas supplied to homes through gas pipelines is a blessing. One can hardly imagine life without an uninterrupted gas supply, especially in Countries facing an extended winter season, like the UK, where we need it for heating.

In general, it is quite safe to use natural gas in homes, with certain precautionary measures. But the risk is always there. Gas can leak from pipelines or appliances anytime.

More dangerous is the leakage of carbon monoxide. It is produced due to faulty or incomplete natural gas burning and can also leak from gas appliances. So, everyone needs to know how we can detect if there is a gas or carbon monoxide leakage in our home.

Detection Of Leakage Of Natural Gas In Homes

The first and most immediate way to identify a gas leak in homes is through a unique smell. Natural gas does not have any smell itself. It is also colourless. However, gas supply companies add a small amount of an odorant, usually methanethiol, also known as mercaptan. It gives a smell like sulphur or rotten eggs. It helps to identify if there is a leakage of gas.

If you feel a smell of this type in your home, this may be one of the gas leak signs. To verify further, you can go for some more tests. Try to listen carefully if there’s a hissing sound. If there is leakage from any gas appliance, you will feel this sound near them.

Another method of detecting gas leaking out of pipelines or appliances is a simple testing method through soapy water. Leakage normally occurs at joints in pipelines or appliances. Mix enough detergent to make a dense solution in a bowl of water. Apply this fluid to the joints. If there is a leakage of gas, you will notice bubbles coming out of the faulty joint. Repeat the same process with gas appliances.

Portable gas detectors are also available in the market. Walk around your home with this handheld device. Wherever there is a leakage of gas that crosses the danger level, the device will beep. This way, you can identify where the leakage is.

With the quantum of gas leakage identified through any of the suggested methods, you can decide whether it is a gas leakage emergency. For more information, check out what does a gas safety check involve?

Detection of Leakage of Carbon Monoxide Gas in Homes

Carbon monoxide gas, commonly known as CO, is more dangerous. This gas is generated due to faulty or incomplete burning of natural gas. Unlike natural gas, CO does not have any smell. It does not have any colour as well. So, the detection of leakage of CO in your home is quite a tricky affair.

It can be ascertained by symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, headaches, or general weakness in humans. It may also prove fatal for human life if it crosses a certain level without detection.

A more authentic way of identifying CO leakage is through carbon monoxide detectors. This is a small device operated with batteries. These devices should be installed in every living room. If that is impossible, it should be installed at least at a couple of points near the area where gas appliances are installed.

When CO crosses a certain limit, this device starts beeping. This indicates that CO is leaking and you must take immediate remedial steps. For more details on CO poisoning, follow the link Hazards of CO gas leakage.

Immediate Action Required

Once it is recognised that you are facing leakage of natural gas and carbon monoxide in your home, you need to react rapidly.

The first step is to shut down the gas supply. A valve is installed somewhere on the gas pipeline, probably around where it enters your home. It may also be found alongside the meter. Shut this valve to disconnect the gas supply inside your home. Everyone should locate this valve right now, so when there is a need, you can shut it down immediately without wasting time to search it.

The next step is to allow fresh air to enter your home. Open the ventilation point like doors and windows to allow fresh air inside your home. This will reduce the possible threat of erupting fire. Also don’t use electric switches, because they sometimes create a spark and may cause a fire.

Call The Gas Safety Engineer

Call the gas safety engineer immediately. Ensure the engineer is listed on the gas safe register, an official body in the UK that registers qualified gas engineers. Before allowing him to work in your home, check his registration number on the official website of the gas safe register. Never allow him to work if his name is not on the list.

The engineer will check all the gas fittings, pipelines and appliances installed in your home. Once he identifies the faults, he will get them fixed. He will also identify the points where CO is being generated.

The faulty appliances may need replacement. If the fault is minor and can be fixed, get it done. When satisfied that the faults have been removed, you can use gas safely.

Conclusion

While natural gas supplied in homes is essential for your daily life pattern. It does carry some risks. Normally, using gas in homes for various purposes, such as cooking and heating, is very safe. But you may encounter a dangerous situation for your life and property.

The danger lies in the leakage of gas. Leakage may be in pipelines or in-home gas appliances. It is even more dangerous when carbon monoxide starts generating and crosses the safety level. It may prove fatal if not detected timely.

Once leakage is detected, you need to take rapid action. Get the fault fixed by hiring a qualified gas safety engineer. Using gas at home is not risky, but it may prove dangerous if proper maintenance and repair work is not done regularly.

So, keep using natural gas at your home without fear but take precautionary measures to avert any threats.