Most homes in the United States have multiple appliances that rely on natural gas to work. While gas-powered appliances work great to produce warm water or air, they do pose a serious threat to life in case of malfunctioning. That is why it is essential to be familiar with the causes of gas leaks and how you can prevent them.
Instant detection of a gas leak can help you act on time to prevent any damage to your home and the people living in it. Below, we have listed down some major warning signs of gas line damage in your home. As soon as you spot any of these, be sure to call plumbing experts from JVS Plumbing to get your gas leak fixed ASAP.
· Physical Health Effects
Exposure to gas due to a pipe leak in your home will cause immediate health symptoms like sickness, nausea, suffocation, and headaches. If you and your housemates randomly start to feel sick or have difficulty breathing, call an ambulance and request an inspection for gas poisoning immediately.
Another physical health effect you may experience is irritated skin. A large abundance of natural gas in your home air environment will cause skin numbness and blisters. Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide can also cause skin discoloration.
· Smell of Rotten Eggs
Have you noticed a lingering smell of rotten eggs around your home recently? That’s a sign of a gas pipe leak!
Natural gas is odorless in its pure form, which makes leaks quite difficult to detect. To help with this issue, gas companies add a smell of rotten eggs in the gas supplied to your home for easier detection. As soon as you notice this unpleasant smell, call in gas inspectors to service your gas pipes and lines.
· Malfunctioning Appliances
Since numerous appliances around your home rely on gas to function, they will be negatively affected if there is a leak in the pipelines. Here are some appliances that can malfunction, and how to spot them;
- Heater – stops working completely.
- Water heater – no hot water available.
- Stove – yellow flames instead of blue.
· Surge in Gas Bills
One of the biggest signs that you have a gas leak in your home is a sudden increase in your monthly gas bills. This one may seem rather obvious, but people tend to ignore it way too often. Unless you’re in the middle of winter and have the heater turned on for long hours, the chances of your gas bills rising are slim to none. Therefore, a surprising surge in your gas bill is generally bad news, and you should call in an expert for inspection immediately.
