Gas is powerful stuff. It is extremely useful. It has been in existence since before the dawn of civilisation and in the past few centuries we have learnt how to harness its power, mainly by burning it in controlled circumstances. In many instances it is vital to health and wellbeing, providing heat in homes and hospitals and, in its bottled form, the fuel for many a domestic barbecue. Gas is a bringer of comfort and pleasure. BUT…
It can also be highly dangerous and needs to be controlled at all times, kept in its pipes or the apparatus where it can burn safely and do a specific job. For that reason, it is important to know the basic signs of a gas leak.
Gas leak signs and symptoms
Smell
The most common of the gas leak signs and symptoms is the smell. We notice it immediately and it worries us, because the human sense of smell generally categorises an odour as either pleasant or unpleasant, good or bad, harmless or dangerous. If something smells bad, we are suspicious of it. We can tell if the milk is off or our water is contaminated, for instance.
The sort of natural gas that performs so many domestic functions such as heating does not initially have a smell. The odour often referred to as being like rotten eggs is put in it deliberately to alert us that gas is free and present in the air. Along with those of burning and rotting, it is one of the smells that tell us something is wrong. When we say, “There’s a funny smell in here” we don’t usually mean funny at all. We mean bad, and a bad smell in the form of gas means trouble.
Sound
A second way we can become aware of a gas leak is by hearing the hiss of gas escaping because it is under pressure and emerging through a tiny space or crack.
A High Gas Bill
A much more practical sign of a long-term leak, though, is an unusually high gas bill. If you have a smart meter, you may notice this before it comes to bill-paying time. The meter could show you’re using more than you normally do, even though you may not have any gas-powered devices in operation. In this case, the leak may be in an obscure location where it has been going on quietly for days or even weeks. As such, it may not be regarded as an immediate health hazard, but a leak is a leak and it needs to be tracked down and fixed by someone who knows what they are doing, not an enthusiastic amateur with some soapy water to put on suspect pipes and joins as they would check for a puncture in a tyre.
Gas fitters often work in plumbing companies, because the two disciplines are closely related in some ways. Working with gas is a specialised business that requires training and certification.
Feeling Rough? That Could Be a Sign of a Gas Leak
If someone has spent some time in a room where there is a gas leak, it could be making them feel ill. They could be unaccountably tired, dizzy or confused, suffering from a headache, irregular breathing, nausea or even chest pains and blurred vision. If you find someone displaying these signs, you may suspect gas poisoning, and if so, you should open the windows, get the affected person and yourself out of there and call the emergency services.
Don’t Be a Hero if There Are Signs of a Gas Leak
If you have more than a slight feeling that there may be a gas leak, the situation needs to be dealt with by professionals. If you are a practical, problem-solving kind of person, as tempting as it might be to go looking for the leak, don’t do it. If you can turn the gas off altogether, do so, but leave the detective work to the emergency people and the gas fitter. Just evacuate and avoid doing anything that could cause a spark as you do so. Even turning on a light switch can be enough to ignite a room full of gas, so leave with a minimum of fuss and activity.
Contact J.O Plumbing
If you suspect a gas leak, call J.O Plumbing. We are fully licensed gas fitters in Melbourne
Our emergency plumbing services include gas works and are available 24/7.
Simply give us a call at (03) 88997561or request a quote online.
