A gas leak is something that should never be ignored. It can be a serious and even fatal hazard to homes and businesses in Melbourne, so it’s essential to contact an emergency plumber straight away if you’ve detected a gas leak.
But how can you tell if you’ve got one, how can a plumber help, and what can you do to avoid a gas leak in the future?
How Can You Tell if You Have a Gas Leak?
First and foremost, you have to know how to detect a gas leak to know that you’ve got one in the first place. Fortunately, it’s often fairly obvious that you’ve got a gas leak and knowing how to act sooner (rather than later) can save lives.
Some of the telltale signs of a gas leak include:
- There is a smell of sulphur or a ‘rotten egg’ smell in your home
- You can hear a whistling sound coming from your gas line or appliances, e.g. stove or boiler;
- Your plants have dead or discoloured leaves in outdoor gardens (if the bed sits on top of a gas line);
- Your gas bills are noticeably higher;
- You’re suffering from headaches or nausea.
The first few signs you can usually tell straight away; the others might occur over time and you shouldn’t wait longer than necessary to react. Not all gas leaks will have a strong smell, but that doesn’t mean they’re less hazardous. Indeed, these can be even more dangerous because you might not even be able to tell until it’s too late.
First Steps to Resolving a Gas Leak
If you’ve noticed that you’ve got a gas leak in your home or business, you may need gas leak repairs and the services of a local plumber in Melbourne who can respond to emergency call outs.
In the meantime, avoid using any open flames and try to refrain from using electric switches in your home. The smallest spark could ignite any gas within the home and the consequences could be catastrophic.
Open any doors or (especially) windows in your home to ventilate the space, and if the smell is powerful, consider leaving the property and staying at a neighbour or family member’s home in the meantime.
Most importantly, however, you should contact an emergency plumber in Melbourne as soon as possible to resolve the matter.
How to Avoid Gas Leaks in the Future
Whether you’ve dealt with a gas leak in the past and don’t want to repeat the situation or you never want to have to deal with one to begin with, you’ll need to take several precautions.
Firstly, you should have a gas leak detector and carbon monoxide detector in your home. These can alert you to gas leaks, even those that you might not be able to smell.
Secondly, avoid connecting gas appliances in your home by yourself. This is a task that should always be left to a professional, licensed plumber who is certified for gas fixture connections. There are simply too many hazards to doing it yourself, even if it seems simple to do.
Lastly, try to arrange for frequent checkups of your home, particularly the appliances and gas connections, by a licensed plumber in Melbourne.
Detecting and reacting to gas leaks can save lives and your property, so never delay and act quickly by calling an emergency plumber near you today.
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