July 16, 2021
You probably don’t think about your gas line very often. After all, why should you? When your gas line is working properly, it’s not something you notice. However, it’s worth remembering how important a functioning gas line is to a functioning household. So many home appliances, from your oven to your heating system to your laundry dryer use gas. But when your gas line springs a leak, it’s essential to call a technician to fix it right away, otherwise you could end up putting your entire family in an extremely dangerous situation.
Earlier this month, we talked about refrigerant leaks. This month, keep reading to learn the top signs you have a gas leak. And for all the gas line and natural gas services you need, remember to call our plumbing pros at EnviroSafe.
5 Alarming Signs You Could be Dealing With a Gas Leak
- A Rotten Egg Smell: Natural gas has a sulfuric smell, similar to that of rotten eggs. That’s why if you detect this sulfuric odor in your home, you should call a professional right away to get to the bottom of it, as unexplained smells like this are never a good sign.
- Dead Shrubbery/Plants: The average furnace is connected to natural gas lines running from the local supply system into your home. Therefore, if a leak occurs outside, you may notice dead shrubbery under where that line is running. The same holds true inside your home as well. Dead houseplants can be a sign that a leak has occurred in your gas line and there is natural gas seeping into your household right now.
- Persistent Hissing Sounds: Hissing sounds are often a sign of a leak somewhere in your household, and it is possible that an unexplained hissing noise could be coming from a leaky gas line. You are particularly likely to hear this noise around your furnace if a gas leak has occurred.
- An Orange Pilot Light: Your furnace’s pilot light should always be blue. However, there are chemicals put in your system to turn the pilot light to an orange-yellowish color if the unit has started to produce toxic carbon monoxide gas. If you notice that your pilot light is no longer blue, call for assistance and get your family out of the house immediately, as carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous. The same holds true if you notice…
- Unexplained Physical Symptoms: When a natural gas, or even worse, a carbon monoxide leak goes on for too long, you may start to notice medical symptoms affecting yourself of your family. Top physical signs of a gas leak include trouble breathing, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, headaches, ear/nose/throat irritation, chest pains, nosebleeds, a ringing in the ear, and other flu-like symptoms. Again, if a gas leak has progressed far enough that you are experiencing medical symptoms, it is extremely important that you get your family out of the house ASAP. This is particularly true if you do not smell sulfur, as carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, which can therefore make it a silent killer.
For assistance with your natural gas lines, call EnviroSafe now at (856) 208-5108, or click here to contact us online.
