As a homeowner, it comes with the territory that you’ll have to make many repairs each year to maintain the safety of your home.

Many of these regular maintenance efforts can be done easily enough on your own, but there are some issues that require the urgent assistance of a professional. A suspected gas leak is one such issue.

Knowing and recognizing signs of a gas leak on your premises is the first step. Once you’ve detected a possible gas leak, it’s time to turn it over to someone who can make the necessary repairs.

Let’s take a look at some of the signs that you might have a gas leak on your hands:

1. You Hear a Hissing Sound

A pretty good indicator that you’re dealing with a gas leak is if you hear a hissing sound coming from the gas lines. In fact, the ability to hear any kind of leakage noise means the leak is probably already substantial and should be tended to right away.

To not act quickly if you hear a hissing sound or leakage could lead to substantial property damage or serious injury to you or others. When you’re keeping an eye and ear out for signs of a gas leak, this one is among the most telling.

2. You Notice a Smell Like a Rotten Egg

Natural gas in its original state doesn’t have any color or odor to it. But as an added safety effort, utility companies add a component to gas called “mercaptan”.

This component adds a strong rotten egg or sulfuric scent to gas making it hard not to notice. So if you smell something similar in or around your house, this could be one of the signs of a gas leak.

3. Your Plants Are Dying Off

Underground gas leaks are harder to detect, but if your indoor or outdoor plants seem to be dropping dead, especially near your gas line, you might want to get a professional gas line repair company to come by.

Of course, plants can die naturally due to any number of reasons, but if there’s no obvious reason why they’d be dying, it’s worth checking for a gas leak.

Natural gas in excessive amounts blocks oxygen which kills nearby plants and fruits, so beware.

4. Fog or a White Mist Forming

Are you spotting a sort of fog or clouds of mist surrounding your house? Even if it’s faint, this mist could be a sign that your gas line has ruptured.

Don’t delay if you notice fog forming. A reliable, professional plumber can come to assess the situation for you right away and provide a solution before things get worse.

5. Your Gas Bill Is Higher Than Usual

It’s not uncommon for a gas leak to remain unnoticed for a long time and to continue leaking quietly for months before its identified. When this happens, you might receive several gas bills that are much higher than what you’re expecting.

If your gas bills have spiked unexpectedly, it’s a good idea to have your gas lines inspected to check for any possible leaks, just in case.

6. You’re Experiencing Some Health Issues

An overexposure to gas can lead to some very real health concerns. If you or anyone else living in your home has been experiencing any of the following, it could be that a gas leak is to blame:

• Persistent headaches

• Fatigue

• Drowsiness

• Dizziness and light-headedness

• Nausea

• Difficulty breathing or irregular breathing

• Chest pains that don’t seem to go away.

• Flu-like symptoms

If you’ve been experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it doesn’t mean that there’s a gas leak, but it’s certainly possible. Especially if more than one person in your home is experiencing the same.

What to Do If You Find a Gas Leak

If you think you’ve discovered a gas leak, there are some steps you should take right away while you wait for a professional to come by to make repairs.

If you’re noticing the strong smell of gas, the first thing to do is open all doors and windows in the home right away and then leave the house.

Don’t operate any electric equipment or appliances in the area. Keep all matches and lighters away as even a small spark near a gas leak can result in a large explosion.

Resist any temptation to repair the leak yourself. This can make the problem worse if you aren’t experienced.

Call a plumber or gas line repair company right away. Wait for them at a friend or family member’s home until they have let you know it’s safe to return.

If You See Signs of a Gas Leak, Give the Experts a Call

We’ve covered some of the most common signs of a gas leak that you need to be aware of. If you notice any of the above signs, it’s very important that you not wait to have your home checked out for a possible leak.

And just as important as it is to have a suspected leak checked out, so is hiring the right person to take on the job. This is where we come in.

We have more than 28 years of plumbing experience including sewer inspections, water heater maintenance, gas line repairs, and drain cleaning. Contact us today if you suspect a gas leak or should you have any other plumbing needs.

We look forward to serving you and helping you maintain the safety and security of your home.