What Not to Do if You Smell Gas?

Gas is safe until it remains confined within the pipes. It becomes dangerous when it starts leaking out. Leaks often occur due to a loose joint, faulty connections, and a damaged pipe network. More importantly, gas may leak at any time, without any visible signs. Leaking gas could be a highly dangerous event, especially if left unattended. It can catch fire, cause an explosion, and may also result in carbon monoxide poisoning. While a small leak in itself may not be so dangerous, it may lead to a disastrous situation if not fixed in a timely manner. 

Natural gas is naturally colorless and odorless; hence, it cannot be noticed either visibly or by smell. To overcome this major issue, the gas supply companies add an odorant material, usually Mercaptan, in very small quantities. With this addition, gas gives a smell just like that of a rotten egg, more technically speaking, like that of Sulphur. Even a small leak can be detected due to this unique odor. So, the key to safety against gas leaks is timely detection and fixing the cause by a Gas Safe-registered engineer. But to ensure the safety of your property and its occupants, you first need to know what not to do when you smell gas in your home or workplace, followed by the right steps to stay safe against the possible risks of a fire or explosion. 

Potential Risks of a Gas Leak

Before moving on to what to do and what not to do in case of a gas leak, it is important to have an overview of the potential risks associated with a gas leak. A gas leak, whether small or big, comes under the category of an emergency situation. With every passing minute, the magnitude of risk and threat may worsen if timely action is not taken. Generally, a gas leak may cause the following serious risks:

• Eruption of Fire – Natural gas is a highly inflammable material; it can catch fire even with a little spark or a small flame. Leaking gas tends to mix with the air, creating a highly flammable mixture. If it is not fixed in a timely manner, the affected area may expand rapidly, covering the entire building. In this vulnerable atmosphere, even a small electrical spark, caused by operating any of the electrical or electronic devices like light switches, electrical appliances, or mobile phones, may ignite the gas mixed in the air. In no time, this fire may spread all around. 
• Explosion – When the leaking gas mixes with the air, it becomes highly vulnerable. In this atmosphere, even a small flame or spark may cause an eruption of fire, which may also lead to a big explosion. The reason is that the leaked gas might have already spread throughout the entire atmosphere. Any ignition in this environment may instantly burn the gas, which often causes a big explosion, especially when the fire erupts in a confined space. 
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – While the main cause of a gas leak is a damaged or rusted part of the gas pipework, sometimes, it may also come from a faulty gas appliance where gas is not completely burnt. An incomplete combustion of gas results in the generation of a harmful gas, called Carbon Monoxide (CO). CO is a highly dangerous gas, often referred to as "the silent killer", as it is odorless as well as colorless, hence cannot be detected, unless a CO detector is installed in your premises. Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide can cause serious health conditions, which may even lead to death. Initial symptoms of CO poisoning may include headaches, nausea, dizziness, and drowsiness.
• Other Effects on Human Health – A prolonged exposure to a large gas leak, especially in a confined area, may result in a serious health situation for the affected people. A large gas leak immediately replaces oxygen in the atmosphere, which results in a medical condition known as "asphyxiation" or "oxygen deprivation". The affected persons may go unconscious, which may also lead to some other serious health issues. 

What Not to Do if You Smell Gas?

It is crucial to differentiate between what to do and what not to do in the event of a gas leak. More importantly, first, you need to ensure not to do the following actions if you smell gas in your home or workplace:

• Do Not Ignore a Gas Smell

The first and foremost important thing is "Do Not Ignore a Gas Smell". Once gas starts leaking from any damaged part of a pipe or from a loose connection, it will not stop by itself. So, letting it go as it is will not fix it; you will have to manage it through a Gas Safe-registered engineer. Every passing minute would add to the severity of the gas leak. Therefore, never ignore a gas smell; take it seriously, even if it is small. 

• Do Not Switch Electrical Appliances On or Off

Once you have recognized the gas smell in your home or workplace, the first thing you need to do is to avoid using any electrical devices, gadgets, or appliances, such as lights, alarms, doorbells, mobile phones, landline phones, and so on. Leave them in the position they are in once you have detected a gas smell. Turning on or off any of these devices often causes an electrical spark. If the air is mixed with leaked gas, even this tiny spark may cause a huge fire or explosion. 

• Do Not Ignite a Flame

Igniting a flame in an environment affected by a gas leak is a direct threat. Gas is a flammable material. Even a small flame may directly ignite the gas mixed with the air. Never light a candle, cigarette, or match if you smell gas in your place. Do not use gas cookers, burners, or lighters. Strictly avoid lighting any type of flame inside the premises that are affected by a gas leak. 

• Do Not Try to Fix a Gas Leak on Your Own

Attempting to fix a gas leak on your own can be a seriously hazardous endeavor. Do not go for any such attempt under any circumstances. Only a Gas Safe-registered engineer can handle such faults. Do not try any DIY gas repairs, especially when a gas leak has been recognized. 

• Do Not Try to Disperse the Gas Smell by Using Vacuum Cleaners or Fans

Apparently, it looks like a nice idea to try dispersing leaked gas by using a fan or vacuum cleaner, but it might turn out to be a dangerous option. Switching on an electrical fan or vacuum cleaner may create an electrical spark, which can cause a fire or explosion if there is an accumulation of leaked gas in the internal atmosphere of your building. So, do not use a fan or vacuum cleaner to disperse the gas smell.

• Do Not Stay Inside the Premises Affected by a Gas Leak

Once a gas smell is detected and persists even after adopting the initial ventilation process, do not stay inside the property; evacuate instantly and do not return until the gas leak is fixed and the premises are declared safe by a Gas Safe-registered engineer. 

• Do Not Try to Suppress the Gas Smell by Using Air Fresheners

Do not try to suppress the gas smell by using air sprays or air fresheners. Suppressing the smell is not the real solution to the problem, as it can only be done by fixing the leak. Moreover, using air fresheners may cause sparks, which might be a dangerous option. 

• Do Not Leave the Doors and Windows Closed

While evacuating the property, ensure that the windows and doors are not left closed. Try to open all the doors and windows to let fresh air enter the premises. However, if the gas smell is too strong, you may have to evacuate the building urgently. In this case, you may not have enough time to open all the doors and windows. You need to make a decision according to the situation. You need not risk yourself just to open doors. 

What Should You Do If You Smell Gas

Once you have complied with the “Not to Do list”, in the event of a gas smell, it is now time to take remedial steps, as summarized here:

• If possible, without risking yourself, you should try to turn off the main gas supply. It can be done by turning off the main control valve. This valve can be located somewhere near the gas meter. Turn it off by rotating the lever until it comes at a right angle to the direction of the gas pipe. A lever aligned alongside the pipe indicates that the gas supply is open, whereas turning it up to the right angle of the pipe closes the gas supply. However, if the valve is situated at a hard-to-access location, leave it as it is; don't take a risk. 
• Open all the doors and windows of your property to let fresh air in and disperse the accumulated gas outside the building. Again, if it is difficult to open the doors and windows and the gas smell is higher, you may evacuate the building without doing so. 
• Once you have cut off the main gas supply and opened the doors, the next step is to leave the building as early as possible. Also, ensure that all your family and/or employees have also left the building. 
• After leaving the building and reaching a safer place, call the Gas Emergency Number, which is a toll-free facility available across the UK to notify the gas emergency to the relevant department. Make sure that you do not do so while staying inside the affected property; make a mobile call from outside the building. 
• Finally, you can also contact the gas supply company, which will send a Gas Safe-registered engineer to your property to address the gas leak issue. Never engage any other gas worker, as only a Gas Safe-registered engineer is authorized to work on gas pipes and appliances, under the provisions of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulation 1998. 

IMPORTANT

To avoid any such situation in the future, you must ensure that your property is gas safe. This can be ensured by conducting an annual gas safety inspection by a Gas Safe-registered engineer. 

Conclusion

Although gas leaks are not common, especially if the property is maintained as gas safe through annual gas safety inspections, they can become a dangerous situation if they occur. Despite adhering to all gas safety protocols, the risk of a gas leak remains. So, the best strategy to handle any such situation is to ensure awareness about how to react if you smell gas in your premises.

The first step is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the location of all gas installations in your home or workplace, particularly the control valves. Next, you need to have a basic awareness of what you should not do if you smell gas. The third step is to know what you should do in the case of a gas leak. Remember, things you should not do are more important than what you can or should do in a gas emergency situation. First, ensure implementation of no to-do list, then move on to the to-do list.