What Are the Causes of Gas Leaks?

When there is a gas leak in your home, there is the increased chance of fire and explosion, as well as the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning. Many times, these problems can go unnoticed for a long time because some gases such as carbon monoxide are colorless and odorless. It is important to identify common causes of these leaks and to have them fixed immediately.

Household Appliances

• Many appliances in your home might use natural gas or propane to create heat, including water heaters, dryers, stoves and fireplaces. As these appliances grow older, the seals that connect the piping can corrode and cause a gas leak. Appliances such like stoves or laundry machines that use a spark to ignite the gas for use can become faulty and not ignite the gas. If someone forgets to turn off the gas knob, the gas can escape into the home.

Faulty Piping

• Gas comes into your from the outside, and a maze of piping crisscrosses under your home to connect the appliances to the source. In many older homes, this piping can become faulty and either loses its seal or simply breaks off because of long-term wear. This can cause the gas to leak in the home.

Poor Ventilation

• Along with natural gas and propane gas, carbon dioxide can leak into your home-- from malfunctioning exhaust fans or as the result of poor ventilation. Carbon dioxide is byproduct of many items that use natural gas and propane for heat. Large appliances such as home heating systems must vent this gas off through the chimney or an exhaust fan. If the exhaust malfunctions or the chimney becomes clogged, the carbon monoxide can leak into the home. Unlike natural gas and propane, which have an odor, carbon dioxide is odorless. A person will simply become tired and fall asleep--and might not wake up.