First, delaying the repair of a gas line leak in your home is dangerous. But how can you tell if you have a gas line leak in the first place? Signs that something is wrong include:
- The smell of gas
- Hissing or whistling from a pipe or gas-dependent appliance
- Sick or dead plants inside and/or outside the home
- Symptoms such as brain fog, severe headaches, itchy eyes, blisters on the skin and nausea
- Bubbles in standing water or mud puddles in your yard
- Little swirls of dust or sand in your yard
If you notice any of these signs and symptoms, you need to turn off the gas, open the windows, and get out of the house. Don’t use your phone until you’re at least 300 feet away, then call 911 and/or your utility company. Here are some things that might happen if you don’t have a gas leak fixed.
The Health Problems Worsen
The health effects of exposure to a gas leak worsen over time. Along with the symptoms mentioned above, you and members of your household can go on to develop asthma, heart conditions, depression, and anxiety attacks. Gas leaks can also make you clumsy, affect your balance, and impair your memory. These issues can burden you with the cost of medical care on top of the cost of finding and repairing the leak.
Health problems can also affect your pets if the gas leak isn’t repaired. Look for symptoms such as red eyes, strange behavior, loss of appetite and difficulty in breathing.
Explosions Are a Risk
Explosions are also a risk if you put off getting your gas line repaired. The gas can accumulate in your home to the point where even a tiny spark can cause an explosion. This includes static electricity you may get when touching a doorknob after walking barefoot on a rug. Explosions are quite rare, but they can happen if enough gas mixes with enough air, and there’s a source of ignition.
Fires Are Also a Risk During a Gas Leak
Fires caused by a gas leak are far more likely than an explosion. Over 4,000 house fires start every year in the United States due to a gas leak.
Call 911 if You Sense a Gas Leak, Then Call Us
If you suspect you have a gas leak, you need to leave the area and call your utility company or 911. Then, after the emergency has passed, if you still have concerns about your gas line, call Assurance Power Systems in Delray Beach, FL, and let our experts resolve the problem.
