How to Act When You Find Gas Leaking in the Kitchen (USA)
Determine the danger., Call the emergency services., Open doors and windows., If you know how, turn the gas supply off at the meter or mains box. , Check the stove burners., Check the oven., Check the clothes dryer., Check to see whether the pilot...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Determine the danger.
The safety of people is always the first thing to consider, so heed the following first of all:
If it is difficult to breathe or the smell is very strong or you can hear a loud sound of escaping gas leave the kitchen immediately and get any other people out of the building.
Do not turn on light switches in or around the kitchen.
Do not turn any electrical switches on or off, including doorbells.
Do not use matches or any other naked flames.
Do not use the bathroom as this triggers more gas.
Do not smoke. -
Step 2: Call the emergency services.
Use a neighbor's telephone for emergency help.
Do not call from within your house and never use a cell phone or portable phone within the house if you suspect a gas leak.
If you need to use a cell phone, go to the neighbor's house to use it. , Do this only if you can breathe easily and the smell of gas is not overpowering and you cannot hear a loud sound of escaping gas. ,, If you can breathe easily and the smell of gas is not overpowering and you cannot hear a loud sound of escaping gas, check the stove for burners that are on but not burning.
The knobs should all be in the same position (off).
Turn all knobs to off. , Look for an oven control knob.
It should be in the off position.
Turn the control knob to off.
On a modern oven the control may be electronic.
Pressing the off or cancel button will turn off the gas. , Some clothes dryers are gas operated.
If this is the case, turn the dryer control knob to off or press the off button.
If it is not clear that the dryer is operated by gas, do not operate the controls. , This can be a common cause of a gas odor. , Most all propane and natural gas supply companies will come to a residence and test for gas leaks.
They will not perform the repair but they will identify the source of the gas leak. , Gas leaks, even very small gas leaks, will not fix themselves.
Always contact the gas company for help in locating the leak and use an experienced repair person to repair the leak. -
Step 3: Open doors and windows.
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Step 4: If you know how
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Step 5: turn the gas supply off at the meter or mains box.
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Step 6: Check the stove burners.
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Step 7: Check the oven.
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Step 8: Check the clothes dryer.
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Step 9: Check to see whether the pilot light on your boiler has gone out.
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Step 10: Contact the gas company.
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Step 11: Get the leak repaired.
Detailed Guide
The safety of people is always the first thing to consider, so heed the following first of all:
If it is difficult to breathe or the smell is very strong or you can hear a loud sound of escaping gas leave the kitchen immediately and get any other people out of the building.
Do not turn on light switches in or around the kitchen.
Do not turn any electrical switches on or off, including doorbells.
Do not use matches or any other naked flames.
Do not use the bathroom as this triggers more gas.
Do not smoke.
Use a neighbor's telephone for emergency help.
Do not call from within your house and never use a cell phone or portable phone within the house if you suspect a gas leak.
If you need to use a cell phone, go to the neighbor's house to use it. , Do this only if you can breathe easily and the smell of gas is not overpowering and you cannot hear a loud sound of escaping gas. ,, If you can breathe easily and the smell of gas is not overpowering and you cannot hear a loud sound of escaping gas, check the stove for burners that are on but not burning.
The knobs should all be in the same position (off).
Turn all knobs to off. , Look for an oven control knob.
It should be in the off position.
Turn the control knob to off.
On a modern oven the control may be electronic.
Pressing the off or cancel button will turn off the gas. , Some clothes dryers are gas operated.
If this is the case, turn the dryer control knob to off or press the off button.
If it is not clear that the dryer is operated by gas, do not operate the controls. , This can be a common cause of a gas odor. , Most all propane and natural gas supply companies will come to a residence and test for gas leaks.
They will not perform the repair but they will identify the source of the gas leak. , Gas leaks, even very small gas leaks, will not fix themselves.
Always contact the gas company for help in locating the leak and use an experienced repair person to repair the leak.
About the Author
Jessica Rogers
Brings years of experience writing about practical skills and related subjects.
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