Insurance Claims
Natural gas is the preferred fuel source for stoves, ovens, central heaters, water heaters, and even some modern fireplaces. However, any home that’s connected to a natural gas supplier runs the risk of a gas leak. Gas leaks are serious problems: not only could they result in serious health issues if too much is consumed, but gas is extremely flammable. If the gas in the air were to ignite, your home could catch fire, or worse, you could be caught in an explosion. Therefore, as a homeowner, it’s crucial that you know how to detect a gas leak and work quickly to repair it.
Detecting By Odor
When natural gas is first pulled from the earth, it’s colorless, odorless, and tasteless. This makes it extremely deadly and nearly impossible to detect should a leak occur. To remedy this problem, gas companies add a strong, unmistakable odor to their product (which some people claim smells like rotten eggs). This unmistakable smell is usually the first sign a homeowner can detect regarding a gas leak.
If you smell gas, the first thing you should do is check your appliances to make sure one isn’t accidentally left on. Ranges and stoves may have their flame burn out, but gas can continue to leak out slowly. If your appliances are all turned off, you may have a more serious issue with a leak in the gas lines.
Detecting By Sound
Gas leaks can sometimes be identified by a hissing noise that sounds a lot like air slowly leaking out of a tire with a small hole in it. If you smell gas, immediately turn everything off to make your home as quiet as possible and start to listen for a small, faint hissing noise. This is usually found near appliances that have gas connection lines since these are usually the first parts of a gas system to wear out and need replacement. Once you locate the problem, shut off that particular gas valve and repair the issue.
Detecting By Meter
When you’ve made an attempt to repair a leak, the only way to truly make sure you’ve resolved the issue is to check your meter to make sure gas doesn’t continue to flow. Locate your natural gas meter and investigate whether gas continues to slowly flow into your home (which you should be able to see on your meter, even with extremely slow leaks). It’s also worth noting that your gas leak may be coming from the meter itself. Old meters will eventually wear out, resulting in gas seeping out slowly. If that’s the case, shut off your gas immediately and call your utility company for a repair.
If your home suffers damage from a fire or explosion caused by a gas leak, get help dealing with your insurance company from a Miami insurance attorney. Call The Morgan Law Group today at (844) 818-0774 to request a free case evaluation!
