Emergency Gas Leak Repair: What You Need to Do

Gas leaks pose a significant threat to a variety of properties and at least 630,000 natural gas leaks happen each year. This is only within local distribution systems alone according to the American Chemical Society. Knowing when you need a gas leak repair or at least knowing who to call if you suspect one can save lives. Oftentimes, property damage will also occur along with severe injuries. To increase safety measures, ensure that you know the signs of a gas leak and that you understand the severity of emergencies like this. Keep reading as we explain everything you need to know to protect yourself, your loved ones, your property, and even those nearby.   The Dangers of a Gas Leak and How to Be Proactive How there are ways to tell if you have a gas leak there are also ways to be proactive and limit the chances of detrimental results occurring if you do experience one. Let’s take a close look at ways you can be proactive to help reduce the negative effects that the dangers of gas leaks present and how to know when gas leak repairs are needed.   Gas Leak Repair: Routine Checks Should Never Get Skipped Every homeowner should have an annual inspection for gas leaks to know if they need a gas leak repair. This will help to make sure your gas fittings are still in good shape and that there are no compromised gas lines. Having your home checked for potential dangers will help determine if you need a gas tank leak repair or complete line replacements. While it’s suggested to have annual checkups, you can have your home inspected as many times as you feel it’s needed. Doing bi-annual checks or scheduling them as you see fit can give you peace of mind and assure your home’s protected and that your gas lines are well maintained.   Make Sure You Have Proper Ventilation in Your Home To ventilate your home, try using a ceiling or plug-in fans near windows. Fans will improve the airflow in your home and when you face them towards an outside entrance, you help to flush the contamination out of the home. When you suspect a gas leak, always open a window or crack doors. You want a good amount of fresh air to keep the gas from building up in the enclosed space of your home. The best thing to do is to also leave the property if you can’t determine the source of the leak.    Monitor Your Gas Lines The best way to monitor your gas lines is to have a gas leak detector with a built-in multiprocessor. This type of detector will not only allow you to see how much gas is detected in your home but the type of gas it detects. This is a more advanced type of detector but they can be found at most larger hardware stores. Aside from doing it this way, routine checks by a professional are the best thing you can do.   Practice Not Flicking Light Switches on and Off When you are switching switches on and off, you are creating a small spark at the connection point of the switch. This is one reason it’s important not to play with light switches. If you have a gas leak and your light switches aren’t properly closed off, the introduction of air and the spark will combine causing an explosive incident.    Replace All Old Gas Fittings If you need a gas line repair, you can often tell from any abnormal noises. You will often hear a hissing noise although it won’t always present this way. To test whether your gas lines need new fittings, do the soap and water test. All you have to do is take a mixture of soap and water and apply it to your gas line connections. After applying the water and soap mixture, turn on the gas and just look for any signs of bubbling. If you see bubbles, you have the option to retighten the valves. On the other hand, it might be best to work with a professional to have them replace the valve and check for other gas leaks.   Do Self Checks Doing self-checks is an important part of keeping yourself and your family safe from potential gas leaks. Doing this will allow you to call for help when it’s needed and to have the chance to react appropriately and in good time. What you want to do is check for a rotten egg smell. Keep in mind that oftentimes, most gases won’t have any odor or color to them. However, for some gas leaks, you will smell the scent of sulfur which smells exactly like eggs rotting. Try to determine where the leak is coming from and if the scent is strong and doesn’t dissipate, call a qualified plumber for leak detection to find and fix the source. You also want to use your sense of hearing. Listening closely for hissing sounds or even a type of whistling sound can help you pinpoint the source of a leak. While abnormal noises could just mean that hardware is broken or that a valve is leaking, it’s best to call a licensed plumber for a gas line leak repair if you need it. The best thing that you can do, however, is to use a gas leak detector. Having something digital that works without your help is an effective measure of proactivity. Additionally, don’t forget to check your stove top. When you do this, ensure the knobs are all turned off and that the flame isn’t lit on either of the ranges. You can also do a smell test here to determine if this is where the leak is coming from.   Your Shut-off Valve Might Need Replacing Corrosion gets the best of shut-off valves over time. This valve is responsible for cutting or reactivating the gas supply connected to your home. You should always ensure that you know