Gas safety is something that needs to be kept in mind in every property. Gas might not be dangerous in a controlled environment but can cause several health problems if gas leaks are left long unattended.
While natural gas does not cause any immediate threat of poisoning, it does increase the risk of fire and explosion. That means it is important to keep the gas leak safety tips in mind while handling natural gas.
Do I Have A Gas Leak?
Gas leaks are hard to notice, especially those small leaks which hardly make any sound. You must regularly check your gas network to ensure everything is in place. In case you feel like there is a gas leak, open the door and windows.
A gas leak in the home is often due to the poorly fitting of the appliances. Most of the time, the leak tends to come from the pipelines where your appliances are connected. If there are any leaks, you can check the gas knobs. If the gas knob is all in place, then the fault might be in the hose.
To reduce the gas leaks caused by faulty appliances, it is important that the appliances have been fitted by a certified gas engineer and are given a gas security safety check.
Important Steps To Take If You Sense There Is A Gas Leak
A gas leak in your home can be a scary affair. Once you get a hint of a gas leak, panic set in because even the tiniest of sparks can cause an explosion.
Given below are the important steps you need to ensure no accidents happen and everyone comes out safe from these catastrophic events.
1. Do Not Panic
The last thing you would like to do is panic. Panicking will help you. In fact, it will hinder your clear top thought motions and will prevent you from taking any effective action. Keep yourself calm and convey the message to the other family members and ensure everyone’s safety.
2. Extinguish Any Fire In The House
Once you have identified any gas leaks, ensure that there are no naked fires in the area. Even if they extinguish them, gas leaks can cause fire or even explosion after coming in contact with any heat source.
3. Shut Down The Appliance
The next step is to shut down the appliances that you are using. This will put a safety cap on your gas leaks and stop the flow of gas.
4. Open Doors & Windows
Once you have cut off the gas leak source, open the door and windows and allow the gas to escape into the atmosphere. While you are in the process, do not turn on any electrical appliance or swing on any switches as this can cause a spark. Which ultimately results in a fire.
5.Leave The Property
If the gas content is more in the house, leaving the property with your family is the best course of action. This will ensure everyone’s safety in any worst-case scenario.
6. Contract National Gas Emergency Number
Once you are out of the house and have secured a safe position, call the national gas emergency number. Remember not to call from the house. First, ensure safety and then call.
7. Wait Outside For The Gas Engineer To Arrive
You have done all you can do; the only thing is left to wait for the professional to visit the site. You just need to patiently wait for the professionals. When the professionals arrive at the scene, do not forget to see their ID cards. This will give you an idea of whether they are certified or not.
8. Visit Hospital
Once the professionals have secured your home, visit the hospital for a checkup. Yes, you might feel nothing has happened to your body, but to be on the safe side, it is necessary that you visit the hospital and have a health check-up for gas leak side effects.
Summary
There are a lot of things that can be done to ensure there are no gas leaks. The first thing you can do is ensure a gas-safe registered engineer installs your gas system. In addition to that, you need to know all the safety measures that come after a gas leak.