Natural Gas Leak Safety Tips
With the winter months upon us, it’s especially important to be on the lookout for gas leaks. Heaters which may not have been used recently, lines which may have been damaged in storms… they can all be the source of gas leaks. Keep reading to learn Natural Gas Leak Safety Tips.
We offer you these tips, shared with us by Pacific Gas & Electric in California. According to PG&E, an underground utility is damaged in America every eight minutes.
How to spot a natural gas leak:
1. Smell: Natural gas supply is mixed with a sulfuric “rotten egg” smell. This way, even small amounts of gas may be detected.
2. Sound: Hissing, whistling, or “roaring” coming from underground or a gas appliance may be an indication of a gas leak.
3. Sight: Though gas is invisible, its effects are not. Spraying dirt, constantly bubbling water in ponds and creeks, and vegetation which always dies in a certain spot may be an indication of escaping gas.
What to do in the event of a gas leak:
1. Alert others and move upwind from the location of the suspected leak.
2. Do not use anything that could be a source of ignition, such as vehicles, cell phones, matches, electric switches, doorbells, and garage door openers.
3. Call 911 to notify authorities, including the police and fire department. |
