How To Detect a Gas Leak Before It Turns into a Gas Explosion

Do you have a natural gas furnace, stove, or any gas appliances in your home? If you do, it’s important to know how to detect a gas leak because you do not want a gas explosion in your home.

Use your nose

Natural gas is naturally odorless, but your gas utility adds an odor to it so that you will know right away if there’s a problem. A sulphuric, rotten egg smell is the surest sign that you have a gas leak, maybe a small leak around your stove, water heater, or furnace.

Use your ears

If gas is leaking from a pipe, appliance, or behind a wall, you may hear a hissing or a whistling noise.. The louder the whistling noise the more substantial the leak.

Use your eyes

If you have a gas stove, the flame should burn blue. If the flame is more orange or yellow, the burner is not getting enough oxygen and it is not completely combusting the natural gas. Turn off burners if the flame is not burning blue.

If you suspect a natural gas leak

Do your nose, ears or eyes lead you to believe you have a natural gas leak? Take it seriously and follow these steps immediately:

• Shut off the main gas valve if you know how
• Open windows as you leave

Conclusion

If you suspect a natural gas leak, always call your gas utility first. After the emergency is dealt with and the gas has been shut off, you can contact a home services company about repairing the leak.