How to Detect a Gas Leak in Your Home

Natural gas is a relatively safe, efficient, and convenient source of energy, providing more than half the homes in the United States with heat and the ability to cook food, dry clothing, and heat water. However, if your natural gas is improperly installed or maintained, it can lead to natural gas leaks that pose a health risk and a danger in your home.

There are also other potential sources of poisonous vapors in your home, including fumes from improperly ventilated gas generators, gas furnaces, and even attached garages. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that as many as 100,000 Americans visit the emergency room yearly due to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

In addition to the health risks, gas leaks pose an explosive threat due to the highly flammable nature of the vapors. If you have gas installed in your home or business or are currently experiencing fumes inside the house that you can’t identify, we’ve compiled this guide to help you detect and prevent natural gas leaks.

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If you suspect a gas leak in your home, the very first thing you should do is turn off the pilot light or gas meter and alert your gas company or authorities. Because gas is odorless, suppliers add a potent smell similar to rotten eggs to alert occupants to the dangerous vapor and allow time for evacuation before symptoms become overwhelming.

In addition to an overpowering sulfur smell, there are a few other signs you might be experiencing a gas leak.

• A hissing or whistling sound
• Bubbles, dust, or a “cloud” in standing water
• Visible damage to a gas line connection
• House plants that suddenly die

One of the first early warnings of a gas leak or dangerous levels of gas in the home may be symptoms associated with carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the Mayo Clinic. This is because as the gas level increases, oxygen rates within the space drop. 

Pets, children, older adults, and anyone with asthma may be among the first to suffer from symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Extremely high levels may cause loss of consciousness and, without prompt medical attention, even death.

In most cases, your nose will lead the way. Before carbon monoxide reaches dangerous levels, you’ll typically smell the odor associated with leaking gas. If you’re unsure, it’s still smart to turn off the pilot light on your gas stove, gas furnace, or gas water heater, open the windows, and get the folks who could be in danger out of harm’s way. Alert authorities immediately and don’t try to reenter the house until a professional deems it safe.

You can confirm or debunk a potential gas leak with the following tactics:

Stop moving for a minute and focus on what you can hear. If you know where the gas line is, try to identify if it’s emitting any sort of noise. It’s not always the case that the gas is moving through a confined space, so don’t rely on this sound exclusively to determine the presence of a leak.

When you turn on the burner, gas stoves will give off a blue flame. Blue indicates there is enough oxygen in the air for the gas to combust. Orange or red flames even after the stove has been lit spell trouble.

It sounds like an old wives’ tale, but mix a concentrated solution of a teaspoon of dish detergent with one cup of water. Apply it to wherever you suspect a leak, like a connection or juncture, and look for bubbles to form that indicate escaping gas.

In addition to being proactive about detecting air quality problems in your home, you can also prevent gas leaks and other potentially hazardous sources of carbon monoxide by conducting routine maintenance on furnaces, stoves, fireplaces and other equipment that uses gas. Additionally, ensure you properly ventilate spaces where gas is being used, whether it’s a furnace, a stove, or a generator. Last but not least, establish a monthly cadence for testing your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and be sure to refresh batteries annually.

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1. U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Natural Gas Explained: Use of Natural Gas.”