Beehive Plumbing Salt Lake City

What To Do When You Smell Gas Within Your Plumbing System

Smelling natural gas within your home’s plumbing system is always very scary, so here are some tips from our Master Plumbers on handling this scenario!

gas leaks and other residential plumbing smells can permeate smells throughout your residential plumbing system

Many household and plumbing system appliances are powered by natural gas, including your stove, water heater, oven and much more. Natural gas is odorless and colorless, but it also contains a harmless chemical called mercaptan that makes it smell like sulfur or rotten eggs.

Mercaptan is absolutely critical because it helps people detect natural gas flows within a home, and issues within a gas line’s piping cause most gas leaks. It’s important to remember that natural gas is potentially explosive and always very flammable, and it’s potentially poisonous when breathed in for too long. If you ever smell natural gas within your property, you’ll have to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Below we’re going over some tips to help you out when you smell gas within your plumbing system!

Telltale Signs Of A Natural Gas Leak Besides The Smells

There are always some instances in which people can’t physically smell natural gas due to disabilities or other extenuating circumstances, but the good news is that there are several other ways to detect a residential gas leak besides the smells.

Below are some telltale signs that your home is experiencing a gas leak:

  • You’re hearing strange hissing sounds that are unfamiliar
  • Air bubbles are developing within water pools in your yard
  • Your plants are suddenly dying or seeming unwell
  • You’re having difficulties breathing, or are frequently feeling dizzy
  • Your property’s gas meter is significantly higher than normal readings

Even if you don’t have a disability that would impact your abilities to smell natural gas, it’s still important to keep these warning signs in mind! Erring on the side of caution is always the correct strategy when it comes to potential gas leaks at your house.

What To Do While Handling A Gas Leak

If you ever smell natural gas within your property, there are a handful of basic steps that you can take immediately. These steps include the following:

  • Evacuate the premises immediately, because getting away from a gas leak is your first and primary goal. Don’t take your time to grab belongings or open up windows, just get you and your family outside of your home as quickly as you can.
  • Don’t light any lighters, smoke, or make any other kind of flame or spark within your home. This also includes starting your car in a garage or just outside your home. Even a car’s ignition can spark the gas, so it’s absolutely crucial to be as careful as possible.
  • Avoid using any electrical switches, because these switches can also create a gas ignition or spark.
  • Call the fire department and your local gas company for emergency assistance upon evacuating the property.
  • Call your plumbing team to help you look into gas line maintenance and repairs that’ll likely be needed.

Beehive Plumbing Is Here To Help When Your Home Experiences A Natural Gas Leak

Beehive Plumbing provides 24/7 emergency plumbing services for all sorts of household crises that simply cannot wait, and gas line issues are one of these problems.

Get in touch with us online or call us at 801-661-8155 to speak with our Master Plumbers about gas line repairs and maintenance today!  

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