"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. Also don't turn on the hot water if you have a gas hot water heater.
Don't flip light switches on or off. Don't use a telephone. Don't use any electrical equipment or lights that might create a spark in the area of the odor. Don't use the doorbell.
Doorbells, light switches, smoke alarms, telephones, pilots on appliances, and filaments in light bulbs (in- cluding flashlights) if the bulb or lens breaks can all generate an arc or heat source sufficient to ignite nat- ural gas.
DO NOT enter the premises if you notice a strong gas odor or if there is other evidence of a natural gas leak. DO NOT smoke, or make a spark or flame. DO NOT turn on any electrical switches, appliances or lights as an electrical charge could create a spark.
Do not use electronics inside the house. This includes cell phones, telephones, light switches or electronic devices with batteries. Any use of electricity can trigger a spark that may ignite the leaked natural gas.
If you smell gas, don't: turn any electric switches on or off (this includes lights) - this can cause a spark, which could cause an explosion if there is a gas leak. use your phone indoors as it could cause a spark. smoke.
All people and pets should be evacuated from a home that has a gas leak. Even if you'll be careful not to ignite the gas, inhaling it is not good for your health and, when the leak is large, can cause serious symptoms and even death.
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.
Gas leaks are subtle in smell but very obvious in bills. They can even go on for months undetected.
Do not open windows and doors if you smell gas outside your home. Natural gas is lighter than air, so opening windows and doors will diffuse the gas to outside of your home. DO NOT use any open flame nor touch any switches, including exhaust fan, kitchen fan, and light switches.
The risks are very low. Like most other types of LED lights, the bulbs won't get hot enough to ignite anything. However, it's best to do a test.
Fire Can Result From a Gas Leak
Both electrical faults and gas leaks are two major causes of fires in homes and places of business. Electricity creates sparks and gas inflammable, so any sort of gas leak, no matter how minor, needs to be repaired ASAP to prevent a major problem from occurring.
Gasoline vapors are heavier than air; they flow invisibly along the ground and can ignite from a flame, spark, hot surface or static electricity causing a shattering explosion.
In the event of a gas leak or suspected leak
turn off all naked flames and eliminate all sources of ignition BUT do not turn electrical switches on or off. If leak is indoors, open all windows and doors, to disperse the gas. In the case of cylinders, disconnect the cylinder and move it outdoors to an open area.
3,200 ppm: After only 5 to 10 minutes, headache, nausea, and dizziness may occur. And after 30 minutes of gas exposure, collapse and unconsciousness. 6,400 ppm: After 1 to 2 minutes, similar symptoms of headache and dizziness. Loss of consciousness and potential death within 10 to 15 minutes.
The substance injected is called mercaptan and gives off a strong sulphur-like smell, that some people say reminds them of rotten eggs. This gas smell is instantly recognisable to most people and provides potentially the most obvious and tell-tale early warning of any sort of gas leak.
Smaller gas leaks silently add to your indoor air pollution and harm your health in the process. Adverse effects of overexposure to a slow-leaking gas line can cause headaches, vomiting, respiratory problems and much more.
What are the symptoms of CO poisoning? The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. CO symptoms are often described as “flu-like.” If you breathe in a lot of CO it can make you pass out or kill you.
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.
It's an unmistakable odor, so if the user is awake, the warning of a leak is instantaneous, even for a very small leak. That has probably saved thousands of lives. But, "the idea that a smell will wake you up is not true," says psychologist Rachel S. Herz, who has spent nearly 15 years researching smells.
For small leaks evacuate at least 330 feet in all directions. For larger leaks evacuate 1/2 mile in all directions.
If you suspect a leak:
Leave immediately. Move to a safe place, at least 300 feet away. Do not try to turn off your gas meter. Warn others to stay away from the area.