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How to Detect a Gas Leak

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Published: Tuesday, 20 March 2018 08:43
gas burning from gas kitchen stove

Do you know how to detect a gas leak? It may seem obvious but there are some gases that are odourless like carbon monoxide, which can only be detected with a carbon monoxide detector. This guide will help you help you notice the signs of a leak and what to do in case of a gas leak.

What can cause a gas leak?

There are hundreds of gas related emergencies every year, most gas leaks are caused by a poorly maintained or faulty appliance. It can also be caused by the appliance being incorrectly installed, appliances should always be installed and maintained by a registered gas safe engineer to minimize this risk.

 

How to detect a gas leak?

The most obvious signs are:

·         The smell of gas, while this holds true with most natural gases, carbon monoxide is odourless which means there’s no way of sensing it.

·         Physical symptoms such as feeling dizzy, nauseous, headaches, confusion, shortness of breath and lightheadedness are some of the most apparent signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. If you’re unsure whether you’re suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning you should leave the house, get some fresh air and then Install a carbon monoxide detector.

·         Some more signs you can look out for is if the pilot light keeps blowing out, your stoves flames should be blue and not orange or yellow, excessive condensation on windows and if there’s any soot or scorched areas around your appliances.

What to do in the event of a gas leak?

If you believe there’s a gas leak in your home, you should:

  •         Go around your house and open windows to help dissipate the gas.
  •          Turn off the gas at the main gas valve which is normally near the gas meter.
  •         Leave your house and call the national gas emergencies number which is 0800 111 999 this number is completely free and always available.
  •         Follow all advice given by the emergency adviser.
  •          Don’t go back into the house while you wait for the gas engineer.
  •          If you’re feeling the symptoms mentioned above call 999 and explain you’ve been exposed to a gas leak.
  •          Never use any electrical devices such as electrical sockets, phones and doorbells as they can ignite the gas.
  •          Don’t light a flame or smoke.

 

What happens if a gas leak isn’t resolved

If a gas leak isn’t dealt with, it can cause fire and even explosions. If you suspect that your house has a gas leak you should make sure you follow the instructions above[SB3] , as stated this can lead to gas building up and igniting. If gas isn’t being fully burnt this can start to produce carbon monoxide which is difficult to detect without a detector installed.

How to prevent a gas leak?

To prevent a gas leak ever occurring is simple here are some steps you can take to prevent a gas leak.

·         Make sure all gas related appliances are installed by a registered gas safe engineer

·         Do regular checks on your appliances for wear and tear.

·         If you find damage you should get a registered engineer to repair and maintain the appliance.

I hope that this guide has been informative and helped to detect a gas leak, you can check out our other guides in our blog section here: https://www.aghplumbing.co.uk/blog.html

Please feel free to contact us today if you have any questions and speak to our highly trained staff.