Many homes in North Central MD area use either natural gas or propane to fire furnaces, stoves and water heaters. Both these fossil fuel-based gases are treated with a chemical — ethyl mercaptan — to add an unpleasant rotten egg smell to the gas. However, many times a leak in your gas line is too small to detect with your nose. That’s why your York Home Performance energy auditor tests your lines for gas leaks as part of a safety check.
Do You Smell Gas?
A gas leak smell is one symptom that your gas lines may need repair, but it often remains undetected, especially when the gas is propane. Natural gas tends to rise and disperse to nose level, but propane gas will sink and collect in low areas, where it’s less likely to be detected by a family member’s sense of smell. Our trained technicians understand how each of these gases responds to the home environment and can locate the source of the gas leak.
Doesn’t My Furnace Technician Check Gas Lines?
Unfortunately, many heating and cooling technicians don’t have gas detectors. York Home Performance technicians often visit homes built in the 1950s or 1960s and learn that the gas lines have never been checked!
How is a Propane & Natural Gas Safety Check Done?
Our home energy auditors use a state-of-the-art Bacharach gas leak detector to check all exposed gas lines in your home. Additionally, we’ll test in areas where gas tends to collect in homes, including in the joists under your floors, around gas appliances, and in the basement or crawl space. If we do find a leak, we identify where the gas pipe repair needs to be done.