What to do if you have a gas leak

warning of gas release sign

Gas leaks are one of the worst things that can happen to your plumbing! A lot of people think that plumbers only work with water, but that’s not true. Repairing and installing gas lines are important aspects of most plumbers’ work. They’re quite similar, but a gas leak is significantly more dangerous and an emergency situation even if the leak is quite small. In this blog, we’ll explain what you should do in the event of a gas leak, so you have an emergency preparedness plan in place.

Know the Signs

Gas leaks are most dangerous when they go unnoticed. If you aren’t aware of the signs of a gas leak, you are in major jeopardy of being impacted. There are two main categories of gas leak signs: physical symptoms and environmental signs.

First, let’s talk about how gas leaks can impact the human body. It’s common for people to experience dizziness, light-headedness, headaches, and nausea. If you are experiencing symptoms like this, a gas leak might be to blame. Additionally, these types of symptoms can impact the animals in your home. Often, small pets will be impacted first if there is a serious gas leak.

The second type of gas leak sign are the environmental ones. Your gas company puts a special compound inside their gas that gives it a sickly odor. The sulfuric smell is meant to alert homeowners of a leak. If you don’t know what sulfur smells like, it’s something akin to a rotten egg. If you smell it, a gas leak is the most likely cause and you should evacuate your home. Other signs include browning grass in your lawn.

What to Do Once You Notice It

A gas leak is an emergency, but we haven’t told you what to do about it just yet. The plan of action is fairly straightforward and simple. The first thing you should do is evacuate your home and call 911. The fire department is trained for these kinds of emergencies and will make sure there isn’t a fire risk. Next, call the gas company. They should be able to turn off your gas and stop the leak from continuing.

Other things to keep in mind that may be helpful are to open the doors and windows of your home to allow the gas more room to dissipate and making sure your pets are out of the house as well since they can be affected, too!

Last, but certainly not least, call your local pros at Essig. Once there is no danger, our plumbing experts can come to repair the leak and you’ll be ready to use your gas again.

We hope that a gas leak doesn’t negatively impact you and your family, but it’s important to have a plan if it does. Remember the signs and try to connect the dots if you’re noticing symptoms or physical signs. Good luck and remember to give us a call to repair it once it’s all safe!

Essig Plumbing & Heating is here as an essential business for the community during this time. If you’re interested in installing new gas lines, or just repairing a gas leak, we’d love to help you out. Feel free to give us a call at (610) 557-3302 or fill out an online contact form to set up an appointment for any of your plumbing or HVAC needs.

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