HOME INSPECTION ADVICE: HOW TO DETECT & PREVENT GAS LEAKS IN YOUR HOME

With hundreds of hospitalization linked to gas leaks, gas safety is something everybody should take seriously. In addition to health risks, gas leaks carry the potential of an explosion due to the highly flammable nature of the vapors. In this blog, we will discuss what can cause a natural gas leak, how to detect leaks, and how to prevent a leak in your home.

Why Do Gas Leaks Happen?

Gas leaks in homes are usually because of badly maintained, poorly fitted or faulty appliances like stoves and cookers. If your appliances are badly fitted, gas can leak -- typically from the fitting, hose or connection that leads into your appliance -- and can become a deadly, silent killer. The most common causes of connection failure are improperly installed units and rubber seals degrading over time.

If you are renting or moving into a new property, you should be particularly cautious of old or second-hand appliances. Luckily enough, professional home inspectors at T M Inspections have discussed some easy-to-spot signs that will help you identify if your old appliances are faulty.

How to Detect A Gas Leak In Your Home?

The most revealing sign of a gas leak is the smell of gas that lingers in the air. But if you suddenly feel ill or dizzy, the cause could be a carbon monoxide leak. Carbon monoxide has no smell and is invisible, and so is a little more difficult to detect. That is why you must have working carbon monoxide detectors installed throughout your home.

There may also be some other signs that indicate a leak, even when you can’t smell gas:

• Orange colored flame from appliances instead of crisp blue color.
• Pilot light on appliances always seems to blow out.
• Soot or black and brown areas around your appliances.
• Excessive condensation on the windows.

How To Prevent Gas Leaks?

The best way to deal with a gas leak is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Your first line of defense is partnering with professionals. If you are having any appliance installed, always make sure that an accredited gas fitting engineer does the work. Likewise, when the appliances need maintenance, ensure that your engineer is registered. And when it comes to carbon monoxide, make sure you have carbon monoxide alarms installed in your home.

Another way to prevent a gas leak is to have your new home inspected by home inspectors in Kitchener, Ontario before moving into them.

Still unsure if your home is safe from a gas leak? Connect with the pros at T M Inspections to know the home inspection cost!