Plumbers can help with any water or sewer line issues, fixture leaks, and issues with water-using appliances. But they’re also qualified to deal with other dangerous problems in your home, such as gas leaks. A gas leak in Sacramento, CA, isn’t something you should attempt to locate or fix on your own because leaks can be hazardous to your health, and trying to fix the leak on your own is dangerous since the gas is highly flammable. Here are some reasons you may experience a gas leak and why a plumber is the person to call.
Signs of Gas Leak
Major leaks are usually noticeable right away because of the odorant that’s added to natural gas. However, in some cases, the leak may be small enough that the residents don’t notice an odor, so there are other signs to watch for as well. If the leak is where the gas line connects to an appliance, you may hear a hissing noise as the gas escapes the pipes. Pets and humans alike will display symptoms of exposure, but you may notice them earlier in your pets. These symptoms include nausea, dizziness, lethargy, and loss of appetite. Your house plants may all begin to die at the same time, and often this will happen very quickly. If you notice any of these signs, you need to contact a plumber for gas leak detection before symptoms get worse.
Dangers of Gas Leaks
The health effects of a gas leak should be enough cause for concern and reason for having the repairs made, but there are two other significant dangers to know about. If the gas leak is serious enough, it will start to replace oxygen in the body, which means the body can’t continue to function properly. The initial consequence is loss of consciousness, but if exposure continues, then asphyxiation will occur. The other major danger from a gas leak is fire. A small spark can easily ignite gas, and if the leak has caused one or more pockets of gas to accumulate, an explosion is both possible and likely. That means that even if a flame or spark is far away from the actual leak, your whole home is at risk because the gas in the air could quickly ignite.
When There’s a Gas Leak
If you suspect you have a gas leak, the first thing you need to do is get everyone out of the house, including pets. Then you can call the gas company to have the gas turned off and then the plumber to find and repair the leak. You shouldn’t stay in the house and try to find and repair the leak yourself because of the danger of fire or explosion.
Sources of Gas Leaks
One reason to contact a plumber about a gas leak is because the source is often from an appliance that a plumber is familiar with. Water heaters, furnaces, and kitchen stoves are supplied with natural gas using pipes similar to those used in water plumbing. A plumber is trained to fit the pipes perfectly so that there’s no leaking from the fitting. A gas leak might also occur from a break in the line in an area other than the fitting, so it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact location without the experience and tools necessary to locate the leak. If you need gas leak repair in Sacramento, contact Bullseye Leak Detection, Inc., today.