Talk of plumbing emergencies, gas is among the most severe. They can result in serious damage and even fatalities, as you will learn later. Gas leaks arise whenever a pipe is damaged, has a pinhole, or the sealant on the pipe connection is depleted and should be promptly addressed by an emergency plumber. Like all other plumbing emergencies, gas leaks can arise anytime or anywhere within your gas line or appliances.
When you install the gas lines and appliances, the risk of a gas leak considerably increases. You should enlist a plumber to install the appliances or lay the gas pipes to reduce the risk. In some jurisdictions, the law requires that licensed technicians install gas lines and appliances. Otherwise, you might face a plumbing emergency when the gas leaks at the most inconvenient time.
However, you could have the issue promptly addressed by an emergency plumber specializing in gas leaks. These professionals are equipped with the technology and knowledge to install and properly fit the gas appliances and lines. They also have the experience to complete the repairs within no time to minimize the risk of exposure to your home. However, you should have their contacts to ensure that you can reach out whenever a plumbing emergency arises in your Coral Springs, FL home. Below are some of the dangers of gas leaks:
Fires and Explosions
When natural gas mixes with other flammable substances, it immediately turns dangerous. Natural gas is colorless and odorless. However, the utility providers add a compound called Methyl Mercaptan that gives it a characteristic smell. Unfortunately, this doesn’t prevent it from efficiently dissipating into the air or being a potential source of danger.
If you notice any rotten egg or a gas leak smell, you should turn off all the gas appliances, open windows and doors, and immediately call an emergency plumber. Whenever the natural gas combines or is in contact with any sparky object or material at your home, there is a high possibility that a fire might break out. This might also result in an explosion.
Could Prove Harmful to Your Health
Gas leaks might start in hidden places, and by the time you notice them, it has already accumulated in your closed indoor settings. No matter how minor a gas leak is, it can cause much harm. Gas leaks will pollute the indoor air that you and your family breathe. Natural gas leaks reduce the amount of oxygen in your indoor air, resulting in breathing difficulty.
When inhaled, natural gas causes nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and dizziness. Inhaling it in high concentrations/volumes could cause coordination problems, loss of consciousness, extreme fatigue, and memory loss. It also might cause nose bleeds, depression, flu-like symptoms, flatulence, and poisoning. Hence, whenever you detect a gas smell, immediately call an emergency plumber to have it addressed.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is the other danger that a gas leak can cause. This mainly happens when the natural gas doesn’t completely combust. Whenever this happens, it is a sign that the appliance has another underlying issue that needs a prompt inspection. Whenever carbon monoxide accumulates in your bloodstream, it causes an oxygen deficiency in your bloodstream resulting in tissue damage. This is the most common kind of inhaled poisoning and more of a reason to call an emergency plumber in Coral Springs, FL, whenever you notice them.
It Could Be Fatal to Animals
Whenever the gas appliances start leaking natural gas, your pets and animals might suffer carbon monoxide poisoning. The impact might happen more swiftly since the pets can succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning quicker. Just as gas leaks can affect a human being, they also can impact pets and animals. Hence, call an emergency plumber for a gas leak inspection whenever your pet becomes lethargic or unusually weak, as that could be a sign of a gas leak.
The pet might also experience suffocation and difficulty breathing, followed by seizures and vomiting. Hence, whenever you notice that your pets are showing such symptoms, you should have a plumber come over to inspect the appliances and gas lines for leaks. Ensure that you also take your pet to a vet.
Might Destroy Vegetation and Plants
Your flowers and other vegetation might suffer whenever there is a gas leak. When natural gas leaks to the plants, grass, flowers, and other vegetation through the soil, it produces chlorosis. This is a condition where the plants become discolored or lose their natural colors. Hence, your beautiful flowers and grass might make your yard a sight for sore eyes.
The plants and vegetation might also die from asphyxiation, which happens whenever the plants are deprived of oxygen. Whenever you notice that the flowers or grass on a gas line has started changing color, call an emergency plumber. That is a sign of a gas leak.
Harmful to Environment
Methane is a significant component of natural gas and greenhouse gas. Unfortunately, greenhouse gasses absorb infrared radiation from the earth’s surface. An excessive methane concentration in the atmosphere caused by damaged or faulty pipelines causes global warming. Methane has a more harmful impact on the environment compared to carbon dioxide.
Though it is a short-lived greenhouse gas, methane is several times more harmful to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Further, it absorbs energy from the immediate environment, contributing to global warming. Global warming results in devastating rainfalls, heat waves, water shortages, wildfires, and droughts. All these are human catastrophes. If you are environmentally conscious, hire an emergency plumber in Coral Springs, FL, to address any gas leak and play your part in conserving the environment.
Prompt Emergency Plumbing Services
Have you noticed any sign of a gas leak? You should ensure that a plumber promptly addresses it. Gas leaks can have devastating impacts if left unchecked. Have them quickly addressed by an emergency plumber to avert the above dangers. Call our plumbers at MainLine Plumbing today for a prompt emergency plumbing service.