Check If You Have a Gas Leak after Roof Replacement

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Watch out — if you have your roof newly replaced, read further because you could have a potential gas leak issue in your hand.  

It has happened to me and it could happen to you too. In some older houses, it has their gas line attached directly under the roof while roof contractors could have used nail guns in the replacement.  Then the chance is high that you could have a potential gas leak problem.

Other factors contributing to damaged gas lines include:

• Pipes becoming exposed after extreme weather
• Ground shifting, or 
• Normal wear and tear.

How to Recognize a Gas Leak?

You can detect leaking natural gas in a number of ways:

1. Smell
• the distinctive odor (e.g. rotten egg smeall)  that make natural gas detectable
2. Listen
• A hissing or whistling sound near a gas appliance or a roaring sound near a pipeline
3. Look 
• Blowing dust
• Bubbling water 
• Dead vegetation near a gas line
• If you notice a patch of dead vegetation in your yard, it could be the result of a damaged gas line leaking onto the surface and affecting your vegetation. 

What if You Smell Natural Gas?

If you have ever smell natural gas, leave the area immediately and tell others to leave, too.  Here are the Do's and Don'ts:

• Leave any doors open
• DO NOT turn on or off any electric switch: this could cause a spark, igniting the gas.
• DO NOT use a cell phone, telephone, garage door opener, doorbell or even a flashlight.
• DO NOT smoke, use a lighter or strike a match
• Have heard a true story that someone has died of this scenario
• DO NOT start or stop a nearby vehicle or machinery
• DO NOT  try to shut off a natural gas valve

Once you are safely out of the area, call 911 and Atmos Energy at 1-866-322-8667 (or your local Gas Company).  Atmos Energy will send a trained technician immediately to investigate at not cost.  Do not assume someone else will report the leak.

References

1. Basic Natural Gas Safety