7 Warning Signs Of A Gas Leak In Your Home

If you have even just one gas appliance in your home, you need to educate yourself on the signs of a gas leak. These warning signs should be treated seriously since the potential risks to you and your family are high. Gas leaks pose both health and safety risks. Natural gas is highly flammable, and using an open flame in the presence of a gas leak can cause an explosion. Leaking gas pollutes indoor air, which has been linked to cancer. Some warning signs to be aware of include dead plants, a strong smell of sulfur, and hissing sounds coming from appliances.

If you notice any of the warning signs of a gas leak in your home and are wondering what to do about it, it's important to act quickly. You and any other household members should evacuate the premises immediately and call your local gas company for advice from your cellphone or a neighbor's home. Once the crisis is averted and you have determined whether you're experiencing a leak or not, it may be worth asking yourself an important question: Is it time to ditch gas-powered appliances for safety reasons?

Sometimes gas leaks outside the home are detected by bubbles forming in puddles of water around the gas pipes. This same warning sign can be used by professionals to test gas lines for leakage indoors. When soapy water is applied to gas line connections, bubbles form in the liquid due to the gas escaping from the line. This warning sign is good to keep in mind, but testing gas lines for leaks, whether indoors or out, is better left to the pros.

There is a red flag from your houseplants that could mean a gas leak. Indoor plants that suddenly become stunted or dry despite appropriate care are a warning sign to watch for. Leaks can also occur outdoors and negatively affect the health of trees, shrubs, and other plants in your yard. Aside from the danger posed by a leak, the damage can reduce the value of your home. Take special notice of dying plants near any gas line, indoors or out.

If you hear a hissing sound coming from your walls or any other part of your home, it could mean you have a gas leak. Hissing or whistling sounds can both be created by gas that's under high pressure leaking out of valves or piping. If you hear a persistent unfamiliar sound in your home and don't know where it's coming from or what's causing it, take it as a warning sign of a potential gas leak.

Sometimes, unsuspecting homeowners and renters are alerted to a gas leak in their home by a higher than normal utility bill. When a gas line is bleeding out, the utility company may think that a household's usage has increased, when in fact, there's a leak. If you have an unexplained hike in your gas bill, be sure to check your home for any of the other warning signs in this list or call your utility company to ask them about next steps.

Just as you should call a professional ASAP if your home has a bleach-like smell, you should also take mist or a cloud coming from your gas pipe as a warning sign. Get everyone away from the house and call emergency services immediately. Gas leaks can cause foggy air due to a cooling effect that creates condensation. This same phenomenon can also result in icy or frosty patches on nearby surfaces.

As with your houseplants, a natural gas leak in the home can trigger tell-tale physical symptoms in you and your family members. Headaches are a common symptom of natural gas exposure, as are blurred vision, chest pain, dizziness, and nausea. If you experience these health symptoms, especially in conjunction with any of the other gas leak warning signs in this list, take them seriously. Evacuate everyone from your home as soon as possible.

A rotten egg or sulfur odor can be a smelly sign that it's time to replace your furnace or other home appliances due to a gas leak. Although natural gas has no natural scent, a sulfur-like smell is added to it for safety reasons. This warning sign helps people know quickly when a gas leak occurs within or outside your home. If you smell rotten eggs and you don't have any old produce in the house, it's time to call your gas company.