If you’ve previously never encountered a gas leak, chances are you may not be sure what to do. Gas leaks are a serious problem, and pose a significant risk to you and your property. Knowing what to do will make sure you remain healthy and your house remains safe, intact, and recognizable.

Don’t: Leave the Gas On

There are a few things you ought to do before evacuating to make sure your home and the surrounding environment remains relatively safe. Make sure you turn the pilot light off.

If your pilot and thermocouple are functioning, turning the light off will shut the gas valve. While this won’t stop the leak, as the leak could be anywhere, it does stop your house from being inundated with gas.

Do: Evacuate

If you see the signs of a gas leak, you should leave your house immediately. You may feel like waiting and seeing if the problem fixes itself. Unfortunately, gas leaks are not a problem that can fix themselves. There is a crack or flaw in some part of your gas transmission network, which needs to be repaired manually.

If you stick around, you increase the chances of prolonged exposure to gas and even carbon monoxide poisoning. These cause dizziness, headaches, and, in extreme cases, loss of consciousness or death.

Don’t: Smoke or Use Electronics

The three gases normally leaked—natural gas, propane, and carbon monoxide—are all flammable. The smallest of sparks from any electrical device or a lighter could be enough to set off an explosion.

Consequently, you should avoid smoking and tinkering with any switches or electronics as you evacuate your home.

Turning things off is just as likely to cause a spark as turning things on.

Instead, leave the lighters and electronics as they are, and exit your home.

Do: Call 911, your Gas Company, and a Plumbing Company Outside your Home

You should evacuate your home before calling anyone. A home with a gas leak is a dangerous environment, so you should exit it as soon as possible. Alert 911 about the gas leak, so that they can evacuate other people if needed and have a fire response ready. Alert your gas company about the leak, so that they can shut off your gas supply.

Lastly, you should call a plumbing company to repair your gas leak. 911 and your gas company will make sure it’s safe to re-enter your home, but you’ll have to get your gas line repaired.

If you’re in the Fort Worth area, Pro Serve Plumbing can repair the source of your gas leak. We can also assess the state of your gas line and recommend improvements to prevent leaks from recurring.

Lastly, we can install gas detectors to make sure if a gas leak does occur, you stay safe and respond quickly.

Contact us now for plumbing emergencies!