There Is the Potential for a Gas Explosion Possibly the greatest danger of all that could result from a gas leak is an explosion. Even a small leak in a confined space that builds up over time can cause an explosion if there is a spark or some sort of ignition source.
Be alert for accumulated natural gas, as it poses an explosion risk even after the gas supply has been shut off. Leaking natural gas will explode when the gas-to-air ratio is between 5 and 15 percent, and the ignition of accumulated gas can have devastating consequences.
Is a small gas leak dangerous? Yes, it is. A small gas leak can still catch on fire and trigger an explosion from another fire source or electrical spark.
"Anything that could cause a spark, even static electricity, could ignite an explosion in a gas leak. That could be a landline, light switch, candles, matches or other appliances.
Large gas leaks are easily identified because of the smell, but smaller leaks often go unnoticed for a long period of time. Smaller gas leaks silently add to your indoor air pollution and harm your health in the process.
If you hear the sound of escaping gas, follow these steps: Telephone your local gas company immediately from a neighbor's phone. Don't go back inside your home or building until your local gas company says it is safe. Keep others away from the area.
The combination of a broken main and a heavy soil cap above it leads to the worst kinds of explosions. And sometimes it doesn't take long for the blast to happen, especially in the case of larger pipes. "It could be an hour, it could be three days, it could be weeks," he says.
Typically, you'll need to allow your home to air out for fifteen minutes to a few hours, but the exact timeframe depends on the severity of the leak and wind conditions in your area.
Sickness and Fatigue
Exposure to a slow gas leak in your house or apartment may cause deadly symptoms including sickness, weakness, nausea, suffocation, and headaches. If you feel sick or abnormal, immediately call an ambulance to confirm if you have been exposed to gas poisoning.
The most obvious sign of a gas leak is a stinky smell. Gases used in homes for appliances and heating are odorless, so manufacturers add ethyl mercaptan because its potent “rotten egg” smell is easily noticeable. People sometimes say gas smells like sulfur or cooked cabbage.
Can You Sleep With A Gas Leak? It is not safe to sleep in the same room as a gas leak. The gas could build up and cause an explosion and of course, the danger of carbon monoxide is present. This is especially important if you smell an odor similar to rotten eggs that could indicate a natural gas leak.
Old, rusty gas lines or ones that are damaged that run from the street into your home. Defective gas-operated equipment. Improper use of gas furnaces, stoves or other gas appliances. Gas appliances that have been poorly or incorrectly installed.
Gas companies add a chemical called mercaptan to natural gas and liquid propane, which produces the sulfur-like smell so that you'll know if there's a leak of potentially explosive gas.
How Long Do Gas Leaks Take to Fix? A gas leak could take anywhere from one hour to 24 hours to fix, depending on where it's located and the severity of the issue. If the gas leak or outage is off-site, then your utility provider will let you know when it's safe to turn your gas back on.
When a gas leak occurs and the gas does not burn up completely (this usually happens when there is faulty installation or a ventilation problem), a byproduct becomes present in your air space: carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide poisoning can kill you. This is why a gas leak can kill you.
3. Why does my house smell like gas, but there's no leak? A faint propane smell may not be cause for alarm. It's normal for a propane odor to linger when lighting a stove, or if the pilot light in a gas fireplace, hot water heater or other appliance goes out.
Carbon Monoxide and Explosive Gas Detector. The best option to detect harmful gas leaks is a hybrid alarm that detects both carbon monoxide and other explosive gases, such as methane, propane, and other natural gases. The First Alert Combination Explosive Gas and Carbon Monoxide Alarm can be plugged into any AC outlet.
Keep in mind that, if the smell is faint, this is not necessarily a cause for alarm — it's perfectly normal for a natural gas smell to linger if you're lighting your stove or when the pilot light for one of your appliances goes out.
DO NOT open your windows if you smell natural gas in your home! Natural gas is combustible only when it makes up 5-15% of the air in a given space. By opening a window, you might actually make the area more unsafe. DO NOT turn on/off any lights or appliances if you smell natural gas in your home or building.
Natural gas is odorless, so a leak would be impossible to detect. Mercaptan, a harmless chemical that smells like sulfur or rotten eggs, helps you identify a gas leak. Even if you don't know what a gas leak smells like, the smell of rotten eggs will alert you to look for other problems in your home.
Rotten Egg Odors
Natural gas and propane have a distinctive smell for a reason. For safety purposes, utility companies use an additive called mercaptan that gives colorless and odorless gases a smell that is hard to miss. Most people describe this smell as something like rotten eggs, sewage, or sulfur.
If you suspect a gas leak and have any of the above symptoms, please go outside into fresh air immediately and call the appropriate gas emergency helpline.