Gas Leak Prevention Tips – And What To Do If You Find One

For many homeowners and operators of commercial properties, gas leak prevention is rarely a priority, until a gas leak happens, then it is a nightmare scenario. It can cause significant health and safety risks to kick in, putting you and your family or staff in jeopardy. And it can also bring with it an enormous bill, too – leaving you stuck having to pay out big money to fix things.

For that reason, prevention is often the best cure. This blog post will explore what the best methods of gas leak prevention are – and what to do if you discover one.

Gas Leak Prevention Is The Best Cure

Gas leaks are both risky and potentially expensive, especially if you have to have an appliance condemned. So it’s for the best if you prevent problems before they arise.

First of all, you should ensure that any appliances you have which are or were connected to the gas are checked out and serviced by a qualified professional on a regular basis. This includes boilers that are hooked up to the gas as well as any cookers or other implements which rely on gas burning. Don’t forget to include the less obvious ones in this, such as any gas fireplaces or former fireplaces.

When hiring a gas fitter in Sydney or elsewhere to do this, you should make sure that you choose someone who is qualified and licensed by the relevant bodies. This should, at a minimum, be someone who is qualified and complies with various regulations including the AS/NZS 5601.1:2013 and the AS/NZS 5601.2:2020. But it’s also wise to look at reviews on Google, Yelp or elsewhere. That way, you’ll be able to discern whether or not the company you’re planning to engage is as good as they say they are.

 

Next up, there are some steps that you can take as a homeowner or commercial property owner to keep your home safe. You can, for example, set up carbon monoxide detectors that will alert you in the event of a leak of this type of gas. If you aren’t comfortable with doing this yourself, then consider calling in All Day Plumbing, with some of the best Gas Leak Detection Sydney has to offer. This is an important step to take in gas leak prevention because carbon monoxide tends not to have an odour, and it’s not visible either. Remember to make sure that you check this on a regular basis and also ensure that the batteries are working fine.

Finally, don’t forget to educate your family and anyone in your household or staff about basic gas safety techniques. If you have a cooker or other device that has the potential to leak gas when inadvertently left on, for example, you should ensure that everyone who uses it is aware of how to keep it properly turned off when not in use.

And if you discover a leak…

Everybody in the household or workplace should know what gas smells like, and know that in the event of a leak they should vacate the premises immediately after taking a few simple steps. Remember: a gas leak can cause safety risks very quickly, so it’s important to act fast.

In the event that you do smell gas inside your property, the first thing to do is to go to any pilot light or gas device and ensure it’s all turned off. Next, you should go straight to the gas supply point – usually a meter – and turn that off. Then you should open all of the windows and doors to permit air flow, and then finally vacate the premises before calling 1800 GAS LEAK (1800 427 532). Time is of the essence here, so don’t stay behind to do other things. And remember to also not light any matches or naked flames while you’re going through this process.

It’s important that everybody in your household knows these steps inside out. If a child is home alone, for example, they need to be able to respond to the risk of a gas leak fast without any intervention. It may be worth printing out instructions or doing a dummy run. The latter could be an especially wise move if you’re responsible for staff in a commercial property.

In short, it’s definitely best to make sure that gas leak prevention is prioritised as much as possible. There are several ways to do this, including ensuring that your gas leak checking technology and infrastructure is all up to date. And if you do come across a gas leak, there are some emergency steps you can take – including calling in professional help.

Here at All Day Plumbing, we’re on hand to help you with all of your plumbing, blocked drain and water filter issues – plus much more. Get in touch today to find out how we can help.