Gas Leak Inspection and Repair: Am I Safe?

Did you know that natural gas is San Diego’s (and the nation’s) number one source of electricity?

Because of the explosive properties of natural gas, it’s best to know what to do when you smell natural gas in your home or suspect a gas leak. We suggest you give us a call as soon as you smell natural gas or suspect a leak. You can also call San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) in the event of a gas leak.

Our experienced professionals are fully equipped and capable of locating and repairing any gas leak in your home, all while keeping your home and family safe!

Here at Carini we take the health and safety of our clients seriously. We offer safety options that can keep you safe and give you peace of mind. We install earthquake gas shut off valves outside of your home, this device turns off the gas supply to your home in the event of seismic activity. Our technicians also install carbon monoxide detectors around gas burning appliances, just one more safety feature to protect your home and family!

What Causes Gas Leaks?

There are many possible causes for gas leaks in your home or business. can be caused by faulty appliances, or by those that have been incorrectly installed or poorly maintained.

Malfunctioning Appliances

When appliances age, seals that connect the gas piping can start to corrode and result in gas leaks. Appliances including stoves, washers, and dryers that use a spark to ignite the gas for use can become faulty and not ignite the gas.

Defective Piping

Gas enters the pipes into your house from the outside, and a network of piping meanders under your home to join the appliances to the gas source. As homes get older, this piping can malfunction and can lose seals or just break off through regular long-term usage. Faulty piping can result in gas leaking in the home.

Poor Ventilation

Natural gas, propane gas, and carbon dioxide can all leak into a home – being caused by faulty exhaust fans or other, sometimes hidden causes. The cause if often poor ventilation. Carbon dioxide comes from many products that use natural and propane gas for heat. Larger appliances, including whole home or point of use heating systems to to vent this gas via a chimney or an exhaust fan. When exhaust systems fail, carbon monoxide can leak into your house. Natural gas and propane have an odor, but carbon dioxide is odorless.

Construction Damage

A gas leak can also occur if a gas pipe is damaged by construction equipment or other activities that involve digging holes and underground projects.

Detecting Natural Gas Leaks

If you have a carbon monoxide detector, don’t depend on it to alert you to a natural gas leak. Both carbon monoxide and natural gas are odorless, but the utility provider puts a stinky smell in natural gas so you can smell it if it’s leaking. Carbon monoxide detectors only detect carbon monoxide – but make sure you don’t mount them too high or low in a room. Optimum height is about five feet. And remember to put one of more smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor and in basements.