What to Know About Gas Pipes

The idea of having natural gas running throughout your home can be a little unsettling. Even though the risks of fires from gas leaks and health hazards from carbon monoxide are often reported on the news, many homes still have appliances that run off gas. If cared for properly however, Mark Wethington, owner of B&J Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning Inc., explains that you should have no problem with this energy source, and you shouldn’t be fearful about it being used in your home.

What are gas pipes?

Gas pipes are simply the pipes that lead from your home’s meter to the appliances inside. Two of the more popular uses for gas are for stove heat as well as operating the water heater.

How are the pipes installed?

When you are doing any construction in your home that involves digging around or moving gas pipes, it is imperative that you do not attempt to do the work yourself. Certain safety guidelines, rules and regulations must be followed and are best executed by experienced professionals. That being said, using natural gas in your home is completely safe if the gas is properly sealed and pressurized inside the correct pipes. Upon installation, the company you hire to install the pipes will perform their own pressure test to establish that all the pipes are properly sealed and that no gas is being emitted outside the line.

How often should the pipes be replaced?

If the gas pipes in your home were installed properly and have not been damaged, then Wethington says you can expect them to last 30 to 40 years.

How can you spot a leak?

As more homes began to use gas to fuel their appliances, gas companies decided to add an odor to the otherwise odorless element. They added a rotten-egg smell to the gas so that if it is emitted, it will be unpleasant and noticeable enough to alarm people of a possible leak.

You can also check for a leak by turning off all your appliances that use gas and checking your meter. Wait 20 minutes and check your meter again. If there is a change in the reading, then you may have a leak since none of your appliances were using any gas.

What should you do if suspect a leak?

Immediately call your local fire department as well as your gas company. Explain to them any odor you smell or any reasons you believe that there is a leak. To be safe, get a carbon monoxide detector installed in your home regardless of whether you are worried about your gas pipes or not.