A leaky gas line in your house or business can mean real danger. If someone thinks they smell gas the area should be cleared and the possible leak investigated. Depending on where you live and the gas company, most natural gas and propane has an acrid odor added to it called mercaptan. This way, if there is a leak it can be detected as soon as possible. This is usually a sulfuric smell, something like rotten eggs.
Common Areas for Leaks
In a home, the most common leak is in the kitchen around cooktops and appliances, or in the utility closet or laundry rooms around water heaters or clothes dryers. If you think you smell a leak, do the simple things first. Smell around the burners on the cooktop. Then make sure the burners are off. Wait a minute or two and determine if the smell still lingers in that area. If the smell persists, locate the main gas supply line and turn it to the off position. The same is true for water heaters and dryers. You can also listen for a high-pitched whistling noise around appliances or pipe connections. If the noise increases in volume, the leak is close by. If you think you have a problem, call in a company that specializes in fixing a gas leak in Sacramento.
Gas Leak Detection Equipment
Home gas leak detection equipment can be purchased for home use. These less expensive hand-held devices are available at home centers and hardware retailers. Simply turn on the gas leak detection equipment and watch the display. To be doubly safe, if the equipment reads that the area is clear of danger, but the smell persists open windows and doors to ventilate the area. Give it an hour or two for the smell to clear out. Then close windows and doors to see if the smell collects. If that is the case, call the gas company.
When you need professional help with a gas leak in Sacramento, you can call the gas utility PG&E for assistance or a local gas leak detection company. The first step is to have a technician enter the area with a gas leak detector monitor. This will give the general location of the leak. Then to identify the specific problem area, pressure testing is done on the different gas lines at the house or business. A nonflammable, inert gas is sent through the gas lines followed by a special tracer gas to pinpoint the leak. Once all leaks have been identified they are repaired, and then the pressurized test is conducted again to ensure the house or business is safe.