Nearly half of all American households rely on natural gas as their main source of heating and cooking. Although natural gas is usually safe, a gas leak can quickly place your home in serious danger. Here are a few gas leak signs you should always keep an eye out for.
You Smell Rotten Eggs
Natural gas is naturally odorless and colorless, so utility companies often add a chemical that provides natural gas with a distinctive odor. This chemical, known as mercaptan, provides natural gas with the classic rotten egg smell that often accompanies a natural gas leak.
You Hear a Hissing Sound
Hissing sounds are another classic sign of a natural gas leak. However, you’ll want to make sure that the sound isn’t coming from your air conditioner, as a leaking A/C refrigerant line or a bad A/C compressor can make the same noise.
You See Dead Plants
Leaking natural gas can rob vegetation of the oxygen they need to survive, resulting in dead patches underneath leaking natural gas lines. If you happen to see a large patch of brown vegetation surrounded by green foliage, then you may be dealing with an underground natural gas leak.
You See Bubbles Forming on the Gas Line
If you suspect a natural gas leak, you can use the bubble test to confirm the presence of a leak. Simply mix a small amount of household dish detergent into a bucket of water. With the natural gas turned on, wipe down the area of the suspected leak with a soft cloth or sponge and watch for bubbles forming on the now-wet surface
There’s a White Mist or Fog Around Your Home
An underground natural gas leak can also cause an unusual mist or fog to form around your property. If you see this, you should call your gas company immediately.
To learn more gas leak signs and other ways of keeping your Lorain home safe, contact the professionals at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about gas leaks and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
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