Merrimack, NH Resident Learns the Answer

If you smell the odor of rotten eggs that is indicative of a natural gas or propane leak in your home, you should immediately open all windows and doors. This will help to dissipate some of the gas that is collecting in the home. You should then exit the home and call 911 and your gas company to report a suspected gas leak. If you can safely shut off the gas intake valve, you should do so, otherwise this can be left for the gas company to do.

A homeowner in Merrimack recently noticed the telltale smell of gas in his home. Alarmed, he left the residence and called 911.

Addressing a Gas Leak After It Has Been Shut-Off

The first course of action when you smell gas in your home is to get your family out of the building. Make sure the oven is turned off and open as many outside doors or windows as you can. This will keep the gas from building up inside the home. You or your gas company can promptly shut off the flow of gas to the property, eventually making it safe to reenter the property. Only after the gas has been stopped and the home has had time to air out, can a representative of the gas company assist in entering the property and finding where the leak is coming from. This can be caused from any gas appliance in the home, including the oven or dryer. It could also be the result of a malfunctioning heating unit.

Preventing a Gas Leak in Your Home

One of the most common causes of a gas leak in the home is the HVAC unit. When not properly maintained, even small issues can go unnoticed until they turn into bigger problems. Regular preventative maintenance on your HVAC system to ensure that the unit is running properly will go a long way to preventing problems in the future. Installing carbon monoxide detectors on each floor of the home and outside of bedrooms can help to detect a leak, alerting your family, before it becomes dangerous.

The gas leak in the Merrimack home could be traced to a malfunctioning heating unit. The team at Joyce Cooling & Heating Inc. was able to replace the old unit, ensuring that everything runs properly in the future.

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