Unfortunately, natural gas won't always emit a smell when it escapes. That means you can have a leak in your home and not even know it! Gas leaks can result in a host of health issues and even fatality in certain situations.
Rotten Egg Odors
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.
Yes, it happens all the time. When plumbers work on gas piping systems, they shut the gas off before disconnecting any of the pipes, but when they do disconnect the pipes, residual gas in the pipes is released, leaving behind the classic odor for a few seconds. The odor dissipates quickly and the plumber gets to work.
The smell of rotten eggs. In its natural state, natural gas is odorless and colorless. To make gas leaks easier to detect, gas companies add chemicals called odorants to create a natural gas smell similar to sulphur or rotting eggs. The stronger this smell, the more likely it is that you have a gas leak.
There is no cause for concern. A faint smell of gas anywhere is not a cause for concern. But if it persists inside the house call the gas company to check it out. It takes fairly high concentrations (strong gas odor) of gas in the air for anything bad to happen.
If your home smells like gas, but there's no apparent leak, here are steps you should follow: Ventilate the house by opening all windows and turning on ceiling fans. After this, if the smell is persistent, evacuate your home. Put out any materials that can create a flame or cause a spark, such as any open flames.
Here's what you should DO if you smell gas: DO leave the home, building, or area of the suspected leak. Get to a safe area as quickly as possible. After leaving your home, DO call the 24-hour emergency number for Peoples at 1-800-400-4271, or call your local emergency response number.
After your gas leak is fixed, your house might still have a strong gas smell. Now you can open your windows and doors to let your home air out. You want to air out your house for anywhere between 15 minutes and a few hours. Do not assume that all the gas has dissipated once the smell disappears.
Try the Soapy Water Test
Leaking gas will form tell-tale bubbles if you have a problem with a connection or pipe. Gently mix a teaspoon of dish soap with water, being careful not to create a bubble. Place the mixture where you suspect a problem. If bubbles do form, leave the area immediately.
They can even go on for months undetected. But if there's a significant amount of gas escaping from your system, it can cause a spike in your gas bill.
No, carbon monoxide (CO) alarms cannot detect natural gas leaks. They are designed to detect the presence of carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas formed during incomplete combustion of fuels like oil, gas, propane, and wood.
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.
Natural gas, which is primarily methane, doesn't actually have any odor at all. So for safety, most gas companies add small quantities of a compound call Mercaptan. It's what gives it the smell of rotten eggs and this is for safety so people know when there is a gas leak.
Gas in the intestine causes pain for some people. When it collects on the left side of the colon, the pain can be confused with heart disease. When it collects on the right side of the colon, the pain may feel like the pain associated with gallstones or appendicitis.
The gas leak alarm sensor is like a superhero that can detect butane, methane, and any odd smells lurking around. And the best part? It talks! It's got voice prompt, so it can be like, "Hey, watch out!
After the leak has been repaired, you can open the windows to let your home air out. This can take up to several hours. Don't stay indoors until you are certain that the gas is gone.
If there is a gas smell but no leaks, it could be the lingering propane odor due to poor ventilation or it coming from your neighbor. The dirty sewage system, contaminated well, or rotten garbage (like veggies, dead animals, residual foods, etc.) might also be the source of the smell.
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.
One of the biggest problems with gas leaks is how hard they can be to detect — many go undetected for months or even years. Fortunately, there are some warning signs that you may have a gas leak in your home. They include: Gradual changes in air quality.
Clive Wynne, the director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University, said dogs can indeed detect gas — especially when mercaptan is present.
It's normal for a faint odor to remain after lighting a stove or if the pilot light in a hot water heater, gas fireplace or other appliance goes out. Nonetheless, any possible leak must be taken seriously, especially if the odor is strong, persistent, or accompanied by a hissing sound.
Leave the Windows and Doors Open
You'll especially want to do this if you have kids or pets to make sure they don't inhale too much of the smell. For a boost, use all the fans you have to make the air circulate more quickly. With help from your ceiling and room fans, you'll breathe fresh air at home in no time.
Hydrogen Sulfide
The gas has a strong scent of rotten eggs, which makes it distinct from other, similar gases. If you detect this rotten egg scent and you are using hydrogen sulfide at your facility, this could be evidence of a leak.