A gas leak can be a serious health and safety hazard and should be treated as such. While serious leaks require immediate and careful attention from qualified gas fitters in Sydney, you may need to change your appliances in some cases.
You must be aware of the seriousness of the leak to decide which course of action you will choose. If you’re concerned about your safety or your property due to the leak, call Gas Leaks and Emergency Services immediately at 1800 GAS LEAK (1800 427 532).
For milder leaks, inform your gas distributor or call your nearest professional gas fitters.
Dangers of Gas Leaks
Gas leaks are potentially dangerous, irrespective of their magnitude. Although you wouldn’t feel the discomfort of these leaks when it isn’t big, the risk of fire remains high. In most cases, consumers experience physical symptoms, including dizziness and headaches.
If a gas leak is left untreated, it can result in major losses. For example, leaked gas can accumulate in a room or a building. When exposed to inflammable levels of heat, it can ignite, endangering the lives and property of inhabitants.
This accumulated heat is dangerous to the inhabitants, even in the absence of a source of combustion. Residents will inhale the gas, harming their respiratory tracts. Prolonged exposure to gas can result in suffocation and death.
Physical Symptoms of Gas Leak
The smell of natural gas is a tell-tale sign of gas leaks in and outside of houses. Many times, people feel a mix of symptoms of a leak with or without a gas smell. Here are a few signs of an undetected gas leak:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Memory issues
- Irregular breathing
Sometimes, we feel these symptoms without smelling the gas. In these cases, you are smelling a masked leak that only contains carbon monoxide. Treat this leak as diligently as a typical gas leak to determine the source and find a solution.
If You Sense Gas Leak in Your House
Undoubtedly, gas leaks are major security threats to buildings and their occupants. When you encounter a gas leak smell, you immediately check for possible sources of the gas leak. The obvious and correct response is to turn off the appliance, disconnect it, and send it for repairs.
If the gas smell persists in your house even after turning off the appliance, check the line that supplies gas to it. You will need to call for professional gas fitting services if your appliances or lines are showing signs of a gas leak.
Note that gas distributors are only responsible for the lines that supply gas to your household. The responsibility to repair and maintain the lines running from the gas meter to their appliances rests with the homeowners.
Sometimes, you cannot locate the origin of this leak. In such cases, you should only call the fitter after taking all the precautionary measures. Again, these leaks carry heavy consequences, and you shouldn’t ignore them.
If You Smell Gas Outside Your House
Another possibility is that you smell the leak outside your home. If this smell disturbs your quality of life, you can get rid of it by shutting your doors and windows.
Next, you will need to find the name of the company distributing gas to your neighbourhood. This name should be printed on your gas bill along with their contact number. Call the number and report this leak for prompt action.
Pro tip: Save the contact number of your gas distributor in an easily accessible place for emergencies.
If the Leak Poses a Threat of Loss
In most typical gas leak incidents, calling qualified gas fitters or your gas distribution customer care should suffice. However, if you believe this leak is huge and can harm a property through combustion, you should immediately seek help.
Leave the building immediately if you suspect a gas leak and move at least 300 feet away from it. Once you are at a safe distance, report the leak and potential damage.
Precautionary Measures
Two major factors cause gas leak-related accidents. First, people often fail to recognise the leak. Second, many people fail to follow the precautionary measures recommended for this situation. If you encounter a gas leak, following these precautions can save your life and property.
Here is what you need to do when you sense a gas smell in your house.
- Turn off gas appliances: As soon as you sense gas leakage, turn off all the gas appliances in your home.
- Turn off the main gas valve: If you keep smelling the gas leak after turning off the said appliance, turn off the main gas valve to put an end to it from the lines.
- Open all windows: Ventilate your home by opening your doors and windows.
While you are locating the source of the problem and repairing it, you must exercise caution. Bringing flame to the affected area can cause combustion.
Likewise, you shouldn’t expose yourself to this gas for too long.
Here are a few actions you should avoid after detecting a gas leak in your house.
- Don’t light a flame: While you may be tempted to use a flame to locate the source of the leak, don’t act on this impulse.
- Don’t switch lights on or off: Turning a switch on or off often causes small sparks that can lead to combustion.
- Keep electrical equipment away: Using electric equipment near a gas leak is also a risky choice.
Summing It Up: Gas Leak Is No Joke!
Gas leaks can be dangerous if left untreated. Repairing the related equipment in your house can eliminate this risk.
If the source of the leak is outside your home, the gas distributor is responsible for repairs. However, it is your responsibility to report the issue to them. Nonetheless, you are responsible for reporting the issue to the authorities so they can promptly resolve it.
This blog post discusses the possible scenarios of a gas leak and their solutions. If the gas leak is large, and it is threatening your safety, call Gas Leaks and Emergency services for timely help. In this case, you should also evacuate the building before help arrives.
