• Home
• Plumbing and HVAC Tips
• 5 Signs There’s Something Wrong With Your Gas Line

5 Signs There’s Something Wrong With Your Gas Line

Using natural gas to heat your home and power your appliances is generally safe, but if there’s a gas leak or other issue with your gas line, it can be very dangerous. Knowing the signs of a gas line problem will help you keep your family safe. These are some of the things to watch out for.

1. You Notice a Distinct Smell

One sign that there is something going on with your gas line is if you notice a sulfur smell in or around your home. A lot of people describe this smell as smelling like rotten eggs.

A harmless chemical called mercaptan is added to natural gas because of its sulfur content and its unmistakable and unpleasant smell. This is done so that homeowners can detect gas leaks. If you notice this smell — even if it’s faint — it is imperative to exercise caution and to take action immediately.

2. Grass or Plants Near Your Gas Line are Dying

If you see dead or dying grass or plants in your yard, you might just think that you have a landscaping problem of some sort. It might not be the fertilizer that you’re using, though; it could actually be related to a gas leak.

Because gas displaces the oxygen that your plants’ roots require in order to live and grow, a natural gas leak can and will cause grass and plants to die. This means that you might not want to call your lawn care company about the dead grass in your yard; instead, you may want to call someone to come and check your gas line, especially if you’ve noticed other potential signs of a gas leak.

3. You’re Having Problems with Your Gas-Powered Appliances

If you have trouble with just one of your gas-powered appliances, then it might just be a problem with the appliance. If you can’t get any of your gas-powered appliances or your heating system to work, though, it could be because of a gas leak that is preventing gas from getting to the appliances.

Additionally, if your gas-powered appliances are making sputtering or knocking noises, it could be because of a gas line problem.

4. You Spot Bubbling in Your Yard

When there’s standing water in your yard, such as after it rains, it might bubble if there is a gas leak. You might notice this bubbling when you’re watering your grass or your plants, too. In addition to seeing bubbling, you might hear a hissing or bubbling sound when you’re in your yard.

5. You’re Using More Gas Than Usual

If your gas bill has gone up, you might have blamed it on colder temperatures or excess use of your appliances. If you don’t think you have been using your appliances more than usual lately but if you have been using more gas, though, it could be because some of the gas is actually leaking into the ground.

One way that you can tell if you have a gas leak is by shutting off your heat and all of the appliances in your home that use natural gas. Then, watch your gas meter. If it’s still moving and indicating that gas is being used, there is probably a leak in the line.

Even a minor leak in your gas line can cause serious problems. Gas line issues should not be ignored, and you can often detect them by looking for these five things. If you think that there’s even a possibility that there is something wrong with your gas line, contact your HVAC specialist at Mitchell Plumbing, Heating and Cooling so that we can help.