At home, you feel safe and comforted. The problem is, there are all kinds of dangers lurking on your property. Odorless gas is incredibly dangerous, killing up to 170 people each year.

That’s a frightening idea, but you can stop this happening to you. Here’s how to detect these gases, and what you can do to stop them.

The Hidden Dangers of Odorless Gas

If natural gas is such a problem in homes, why is it used?

As a fuel source, it’s actually very effective. It creates a lot of heat with a comparative small amount of fuel, so it’s economical to use. It also burns cleaner than many other heat sources. Because of this, natural gas is used to heat water heaters, fuel gas burners on your stove, and light gas fireplaces.

The problem with this gas though is because it’s so flammable, it’s a serious fire hazard. If there’s a leak, it will also pour deadly carbon monoxide into your home. As this gas is odorless, you may not realize there’s a leak until it’s too late.

This is why suppliers add the distinctive smell you know to gas, so you’ll be able to tell if there’s a leak. Of course, this often won’t work if you have a cold, or don’t have a sense of smell.

Someone with carbon monoxide poisoning will often feel dizzy and faint, have headaches and upset stomachs, and suffer from vomiting. If you’re asleep when the leak happens, you can be killed before you realize what is happening.

In fact, it’s so dangerous that you need to be able to detect that leak before it causes any danger to you or your loved ones. There are several ways you can detect it, so read on to keep your home safe.

Install a Gas Detector

This is the most important tip on this list. If you don’t have a gas detector, you must get one as soon as possible. These work in a similar way to smoke detectors. They will detect carbon monoxide in the air, and they will sound an alarm if the levels are too high.

When you buy an alarm, place it somewhere the alarm will wake you if it goes off in the night. It’s vital you do this, so you don’t sleep through the alarm and risk injury or death from carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s also a good idea to get one that has a digital readout, so you can see what the levels are in your home.

It’s important you maintain the detector, just as you would with a smoke detector. Do a check on it at least twice a year, and change the batteries out. Keeping it working will ensure you’ll be alerted in case of a leak.

Get Odorless Gas Appliances an Annual Inspection

Everything that uses natural gas in your home needs to be inspected at least yearly.

You can do your own basic inspections, but if there are any problems it’s much better to have a qualified professional handle it. They will inspect everything that uses gas, such as heaters, stoves and fireplaces, checking for leaks and other issues. They’ll also repair any problems they see, keeping you safe.

It’s important you have a professional do this, rather than doing it yourself. Experts are certified to work with gas, and can do so safely. Keep yourself safe by booking this inspection every year.

Follow Your Nose

Odorless gas is the most dangerous, as it’s the hardest to detect. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to smell it if it’s the treated gas that comes into your home, rather than the carbon monoxide by product.

If you can smell gas, follow the smell if you can do so safely. This will often bring you to the source.

Sometimes, all you’ll need to do is turn off the burners on your stove, or similar. If you can’t see where the leak is coming from, it’s best to shut off gas to your home and call an expert in as an emergency, to fix the problem.

Listen for Odorless Gas Leaks

If you know where your gas lines are, stop and listen for the leak. If there is one, it’s likely that you’ll hear some kind of hissing or whistling. If you can hear that, you can follow the noise until you find the source of the noise and fix it.

If you do find a leak in the pipes, never use tape or gum to try and seal it. This is actually more dangerous, as it can lead to more carbon monoxide building up in your home. Instead, have an expert come and fix it.

It’s worth knowing that when these pipes are being installed, they should be tilted upwards slightly. This will stop carbon monoxide leaking, so if yours aren’t installed like this you’ll want to have them changed.

Try the Soapy Water Test

If you’re not sure if there’s a leak, you can try this test on the suspected area of your pipes.

This is very simple but effective. All you need is a mixture of dish soap and water.

Rub it on any area that you suspect of leaking, such as a connection in your gas lines. If there are bubbles coming up once you’ve applied it, that’s a sign that there’s a leak.

A Word About Odorless Gas Safety

While you can do all these things to detect odorless gas leaks, it’s very important that you know when to call the experts. Gas is incredibly dangerous when handled improperly, and you want to ensure you and your family are safe.

If you suspect there’s a gas leak, the best thing to do is always call an expert. They’ll be able to repair it safely, making your home safe again.

Now you know how to detect a gas leak safely, without having to worry about injury to yourself and anyone who lives in your home. As soon as you find a leak call for help, and you will be safe and sound.