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What to Do if There’s a Dangerous Gas Leak

When it comes to dangerous situations at home, gas leaks are near the top of the list for homeowners. If not repaired quickly and safely, these can risk a household’s health and safety and raise concerns over possible explosions.

Homeowners need to be able to spot natural gas leak symptoms as soon as possible to prevent these dangerous situations, know what to do if a leak does occur, and schedule services with a professional to have it repaired quickly to restore safety to a home. 

Signs of a Gas Leak

To protect their family from a gas leak, homeowners need to know the signs to look for that can indicate a leak – including gas leak smells. Some symptoms can include:

• Odors that are similar to rotten eggs 
• Hissing or whistling sounds near a gas line, appliance, or gas meter
• Dead plants or brown patches in a yard can indicate an underground gas pipe leak 
• Bubbles in standing water outside or inside their home
• Physical symptoms in household members, such as dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nausea, difficulty breathing, or eye and throat irritation 
• An unexplained increase in gas bills  

How to Respond to a Gas Leak

Homeowners must follow the proper steps if they suspect a gas leak. Some steps experts recommend they follow are:

1. Evacuate the house, leaving the doors open behind them to let the gas dissipate. They should not use any electrical devices (including phones) inside or turn on or off light switches to avoid creating a spark.
2. Avoid lighting candles, matches, cigarettes, or any open flames.
3. If possible, they should try to shut off the gas supply to avoid more gas entering the house. 
4. After the family is safely out of the home, they should call for emergency services to report the issue and schedule professional repairs to fix the gas leak.

Professional Solutions for a Gas Leak

When scheduling gas leak repairs, homeowners must call a trusted professional for gas leak detection services. An experienced plumbing technician is needed to ensure the repair is completed safely and accurately and is not putting the family at risk. Mishandling a leak can result in additional dangers and increase the chances of health problems and explosions.

To repair a gas leak, technicians will take the following actions:

• Assess the situation to determine the severity and source of the gas leak. 
• Identify the exact location of the leak with specialized equipment like gas leak detectors.
• Shut off the gas supply if the gas leak is coming from a specific appliance or gas line. 
• Ventilate the area to dissipate the accumulated gas and reduce the risk of ignition. 
• Repair the gas line leak. If the damage is severe, they may need to replace or repair the pipe, valve, or appliance. 
• After the work is done, professionals will check to ensure the gas leak is repaired and verify that gas levels are within acceptable limits.
• Before leaving, professionals will likely talk to homeowners about ways to reduce the risk of gas leaks again in the future. One recommendation may be to install a gas detector to alert them to leaks. This is different from a carbon monoxide detector, which only detects carbon monoxide. 

About Expert Plumbing & Water Heaters, Inc.

Expert Plumbing & Water Heaters, Inc. is a family-owned and operated business serving Soquel and the surrounding areas. They offer same-day services, flat rate pricing, and on-time service. Call them today for gas leak detection and repair services in Soquel, CA.

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