A couple of weeks ago, my washer – part of a washer/gas dryer combo stack – died on me when it failed to drain water during the drain cycle. Just to be certain that it’s not broken due to some clogged pumps (repairable), we pulled the unit out from the small pantry space to inspect the hoses in the back.
A Bigger Problem Lurks Beneath
Unbeknownst to me, a bigger problem was lurking. That same evening, I smelled a whiff of gas in the kitchen area. It came and went. I checked my stove and dryer. Because it was just a whiff, I thought little of it. I went to bed and rushed off to work the next morning.
When I came home late the next evening, there was an unmistakeable smell of gas the moment I walked through the door. This time, the smell was palpable though it was still concentrated near the kitchen area. Where is the gas smell coming from? I can’t be sure. Is the smell even coming from my unit?
I settled in and looked up information on what to do if you suspect a gas leak. Should I call my gas company right away? Does this constitute an emergency? I was tired. It was late. Out of an abundance of caution, I simply decided to open up all the windows for the evening.
Is It An Emergency?
I woke up the next morning and I still smelled faint gas. I stepped out to the balcony to get some fresh air. It was only when I stepped back inside when it became apparent to me the drop in air quality. I decided then and there to call my local gas company’s emergency line.
When a gentleman from the gas company picked up my call, I admitted up front that I didn’t know if this is considered an emergency. He assured me that I did the right thing and dispatched a technician to my location. While I waited, I began to have a light headache (rare for me). I stayed outside for fresh air.
When the technician arrived, he also reassured me that I did the right thing by calling. He let me know that he’d much rather be out on a service call trying to find a gas leak than to see in the news that someone had died from a gas leak. That struck a nerve with me.
He traced the leak to the wall piping behind the washer/dryer unit, which required a licensed gas plumber to fix. He shut off the gas line to my unit and wrote up a notice. Gratefully, I thanked him for coming. Even though it was a small one, it was – in fact – a gas leak.
Mistakes I’ve Made
I had actually committed a series of mistakes. Hopefully, you can also learn from them.
1. DON’T SETTLE IN IF YOU SUSPECT A GAS LEAK
As most people already know, natural gas is “odorless, colorless and tasteless” but mercaptan has been added so that people can smell and detect natural gas in the air. What I did not realize – until I experienced for myself – is that the longer you are in the environment, the less you are able to detect it. This is a lethal mistake to make. As the nose adjusted to the smell, the brain shuts off all the warning bells.
It is so incredibly easy to settle in and think that it’s all in your head. It is why carbon monoxide poisoning /gas leaks are known as the “silent killers”.
2. DON’T WAIT TO CALL FOR HELP, AT ANY HOUR OF THE DAY
I hesitated to call the emergency line because I didn’t know if my situation constituted as a “real” emergency. I also hesitated because it was late in the evening, and I didn’t want to bother people. Now, I wouldn’t hesitate to call at any hours of the day. Gas (at the right mix and level) and carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly — people do die from it. It is better to be safe than sorry.
3. DON’T RELY ON CARBON MONOXIDE GAS DETECTOR
I mistakenly thought that my carbon monoxide detector might pick up the odor. If it was a serious gas leak, the device would be triggered. Except, carbon monoxide alarms don’t work for natural gas detection. It was a wrong assumption on my part, which gave way to some false sense of security. Fortunately, I trusted my gut instinct.
4. DON’T IGNORE SYMPTOMS OR SIGNS
If you suspect a gas leak and/or start to develop symptoms, don’t ignore it. Small gas leaks, even over time, can be be harmful to you and your health. I ended up getting a light headache even though it was a small gas leak.
WHAT NOT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT A GAS LEAK
If you suspect a gas leak, these are some things you should not do.
IN SUMMARY
While I committed a series of mistakes, I also did a few things right, such as opening all windows and calling the emergency line the next morning. In life, we are given chances to have some do-overs. Some mistakes are more forgiving than others, while others are life-altering or life-ending (i.e. DUI, drug overdose, and yes, even gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning).
Let gas leak /carbon monoxide poisoning not be a fatal mistake for anyone.
No matter where you are (at home, out there on a traveling adventure, or anywhere),please re-consider what you should do when there is a suspected gas leak.
It is better to be safe than sorry.
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We assume that the smell that has been added to natural gas is obvious to everyone, but not always. About 25 years ago, when I was a school principal, the serviceman from the gas company was working on adding a valve to our gas line. I think this must have been just after they started adding the smell. He asked me to come out so he could show me how the valve worked and also to “introduce” me to the new odor. I told him that I hardly had any sense of smell. He assured me (somewhat condescendingly, I have to add) that not only would I be able to smell it, I wouldn’t be able to stand taking even a little whiff. I put my nose right up to the outlet, inhaled deeply and turned to him smiling and said – “nope – no smell”. Then I got my secretary and the custodian so they would know what to “smell for”. Luckily my sense of smell has gotten better over the years – and my husband has a very acute sense of smell.