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5 Signs You May Have a Gas Leak

Gas leaks are a serious hazard and can have detrimental impacts on your health. If left unaddressed, gas leaks can lead to natural gas poisoning, resulting in symptoms including fatigue, headaches, nausea, or memory and concentration issues.

Identifying this threat is critical to quickly evacuating your family and pets and requesting gas plumbing repair so you can safely return home as soon as possible.

Signs of a gas leak include:

Dead Plants

If you’ve noticed dead plants both inside and outside of your home, you may be experiencing a gas issue.

With natural gas in the air, your plants and their roots cannot absorb oxygen, leading them to wilt and die.

Plants are very sensitive to natural gas and can often alert you to a leak before you notice any other signs or issues.

Hissing Sounds

If you hear a hissing sound near your gas lines, you might have a gas leak. In fact, a hissing sound normally means you have a substantial leak; the louder the noise, the bigger the gas leak.

When you notice these sounds, try to remember the general area or source, whether it’s an appliance, pipe, or coming from behind the wall. Knowing the location of the leak can help your plumber more easily restore your gas supply.

However, you shouldn’t go out of your way to find the gas leak; make evacuation your focus.

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.

Small Bubbles

One quick way to tell if you have a gas leak is to perform the bubble test. This also works for anything that contains pressurized gas, such as tires, inner tubes, and propane tanks.

• Mix a small amount of dish soap into a large container of water.
• Make sure the gas is on.
• Using a cloth or sponge, wipe down the suspected area.
• If you see bubbles forming, that means you have a leak!

If you see bubbles forming in wet areas around your home, you may have an underground gas leak. Other signs might include dirt getting kicked up in the air or the presence of fog or mist.

White Mist or Fog

When gas escapes from your underground line, condensation occurs, and a fog or white mist becomes visible. This cloud of fog can be an indication of a rupture from a gas line.

The fog will often lay low, right above the ground, as opposed to the clouds of fog we often see when there’s foggy weather.

What You Should & Shouldn’t Do When You Find a Gas Leak

• Open windows and doors.
• Evacuate all household members and pets from the area immediately.
• Don’t try to turn off the gas as you could cause a spark or damage pipes and appliances.
• Don’t operate any electricity or use any lighters, matches, or appliances. Don’t even start your car. Even a small spark could cause a huge explosion.
• Call your local gas company. If they can’t be reached, call your local fire department.

Ensure your safety by leaving gas line repair to a trusted plumber. They’ll locate and resolve the leak to restore the natural gas supply and safety to your home.

Call Penguin 24/7 for Emergency Gas Line Repair in Phoenix

If you suspect issues with your gas line, don’t delay. Gas leaks should be handled urgently to avoid additional problems, including carbon monoxide leaks.

Carbon monoxide is produced when fuel is burned, and leaks can mean significant danger. Homeowners should ensure that they have carbon monoxide monitors installed in the proper locations and that they are functional.

If you’re experiencing any signs of a gas leak, Penguin is standing by for 24/7 emergency plumbing service in the Phoenix Metro area.

Call (480) 550-9943 now to request emergency gas line repair!

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