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| Gas Leak Testing – A gas leak test can be performed to determine if the gas system is leaking. We test your gas system by using a special pressure gauge on the gas riser at the meter, then pump air into the entire gas system. We watch the gauge for a period of approximately 15 minutes to verify that the gauge hand is not moving. Our licensed plumbers will test the entire gas system, which includes both the yard service and house service. In most new homes, we can also take the gas line apart at the house and pressure test the home only for gas leaks. |
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Copyright 2010 Mr Drain® Plumbing |
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Gas Leak Detection – Harvey West Plumbing can detect gas leaks, using several different methods. We can isolate the leak to the house or yard in most cases by shutting the gas off to the house at the shut off valve. If a gas leak is determined to be in the yard service, we can check a few fittings with soap bubbles to check for escaping air, however if those fittings are not leaking, it will then be necessary to replace the entire yard service to repair the leak(s).
If the leak is found to be in the house, we can again use soap bubbles to check for air leaks on the gas lines in the attic, under a pier and beam home, or at gas appliances. Once the leak is located inside the house we will be able to recommend the best options for repairs. |
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Copyright 2010 Mr Drain® Plumbing |
| At Mr Drain Plumbing ® as we also specialize in the Gas Leak detection technology click to learn more. |
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Gas Leak Repair – In the majority of cases, repairs will require that a city permit is issued. This is to ensure the safety of you and your neighbors. The city inspector and the gas company both will verify no leaks remain after repairs are made by your licensed plumbing contractor. Once the city permit has been issued, or if it is determined a permit is not necessary, we can begin the necessary procedures in repairing the gas leak.
If a permit is required, many cities require that the entire gas system be brought up to current building code standards, if this is necessary, this will also be done during the repair stage. Once the repair(s) and possible code upgrades are completed, we will call in for an inspection with your city, and they will schedule a day (typically the next day) to come and inspect the work. |
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What if the gas company turned off your Gas? Once the gas company has turned the gas off to your home, the next step is to contact local Mr Drain Plumber ® the licensed plumbers. In a most situations, a pressure test will be performed on the gas service to determine if there are any leaks. Once the test is performed, leaks will be located and repaired, city code violations must be upgraded, and then your city will inspect the job. Once the city inspection and approval is given for the job, the city will release your gas system back to the gas company. The gas company must come back out to turn the gas back on or our technicians will do so at no cost.
What if you smell Gas? Due to the potential danger of gas leaks, it is always our recommendation to call the gas company to have them come out and shut off the gas immediately. Once the gas is shut off, the gas company will then inform you that you will need to call a licensed plumber from Mr Drain Plumbing® to have test, locate and repair the leak(s). |
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| Copyright 2010 Mr Drain® Plumbing |
- What pipe is used for Gas System? In the old days all gas systems, both in the yard and in the house were typically black pipe. The problem with this pipe is exposure to water will cause deterioration over time, so any house that still has this type of pipe underground in the yard, will be replacing it in the near future.
- These days, a new rolled Poly pipe, which is a yellow plastic pipe, is used in the yard. Black Pipe is still the preferred gas pipe used in the home. However, sometimes a special stainless steel flexible pipe such as trac pipe is also used inside homes.
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| Are gas leaks dangerous? Gas leaks can be extremely dangerous even if it is only a small leak. If allowed to continue to leak for a long enough period of time, it can cause gas to build up in an area, and one small spark can cause a serious explosion. Gas leaks have caused many house explosions. A gas leak in Garland Texas in 2000 caused a house explosion, a gas leak in Richardson Texas caused an explosion in 2001, a gas leak in Wylie Texas in 2006 caused a house explosion, and a gas leak in McKinney Texas caused three house explosions in 2008 a gas leak recently in Burlingame 2010 caused 5 homes on fire as well as many others. All of these were due to gas leaks. Gas leaks are nothing to play around with and should be taken care of with urgency. |
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| Copyright 2010 Mr Drain® Plumbing |
At Mr Drain Plumbing ® as we also specialize in the Gas Leak detection technology click to learn more.
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Can I or should I try to fix a gas leak myself? City will not issue permits to a homeowner when a gas leak is involved. They will only issue to a licensed and registered plumbing contractor such as Mr Drain Plumber ®.
It is a major safety and liability issue for yourself and others in your neighborhood to only have a licensed plumber work on your gas system.
If you have any other questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact our office, and we will be more than happy to help you. |
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| Copyright 2010 Mr Drain® Plumbing |
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General safety warning: improper installation and even improper inspection and testing methods involving natural or "LP" gas can involve dangerous conditions and risk fire or explosion. If you smell gas you should leave the building immediately and should do so without doing anything that could create a spark such as operating a light switch or telephone.
From a safe location, call your gas company's emergency line and/or your fire department. The text provided here is a working draft and may be incomplete or inaccurate. |
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| Copyright 2010 Mr Drain® Plumbing |
| Getting Started |
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Main Gas Valve. A main building gas shutoff valve are normally located at the main gas meter. An additional shutoff valve may be located in the street or sidewalk outside of the building - a device that cannot be readily seen nor used by a building owner.
We can see that the gas valve is in the "open" position because the movable lever is in the "down" position and parallel to the gas pipe.We advise our customers not to touch this valve.
We worry that you'll damage the valve and cause a more serious gas leak than ever. Call your local gas company or Mr Drain Plumber ® for assistance with the valve or the meter. Usually, because serious safety concerns apply, the gas company will respond immediately. |
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| Copyright 2010 Mr Drain® Plumbing |
Gas shutoff valves at individual gas-fired appliances
Next you should find and document the location of individual gas shutoff valves at each appliance in the building that uses gas. Building codes require that a gas shutoff be located at each appliance and outside of the jacket or cover of the appliance. Typical gas fired appliances that would each have its own gas shutoff valve include gas fired boilers or furnaces, clothes dryers, water heaters, and gas fired cook stoves or range tops.
In some cases such as where a damaged or corroded flexible gas connector line joins the appliance to the building gas piping, moving the appliance could start a dangerous gas leak. |
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| Copyright 2010 Mr Drain® Plumbing |
- In these cases, such as a range top, gas stove or clothes dryer which may be pushed against a building wall, we like to see an additional gas shutoff valve for such appliances located in a more accessible location. This permits the user or repair technician to turn off the gas supply without moving the appliance.
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| At Mr Drain Plumbing® as we also specialize in the Leak detection technology click to learn more. |
| Gas shutoff valves located inside of heating appliance covers and jackets |
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Safety Recommendation: a gas shutoff valve should be installed in the gas line close to each gas-fired appliance/device. If your building has gas fired appliances that lack an accessible gas shutoff valve you should ask your local Mr Drain Plumber ® to install one If you see that the local manual gas line shutoff valve at a gas-fired appliance has been installed only inside the jacket or cover, this is an unsafe condition: the valve could be difficult to reach in an emergency.
Check with your local building code inspectors. Relocation of such valves is usually a minor expense and can be handled by most licensed plumbers or heating service technicians. |
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| Copyright 2010 Mr Drain® Plumbing |
Abandoned gas shutoff valves may be very dangerous Gas valves may be left in place when an appliance has been removed.If the gas valve does not include a lock to prevent it from being opened, the gas pipe should be capped so that the valve cannot be opened to let explosive gas into the building. Someone who doesn't know better might open this valve, causing a serious or potentially fatal explosion in the building.
Mostly unlicensed plumbers or handy man will leave these kind of mistakes which than turn in 100s and 1000s or dollars of loss.
Call your local Mr Drain Plumber ® today and get all gas lines and gas appliances inspected because we care for your safety and you don’t want to see accidents. |
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| Copyright 2010 Mr Drain® Plumbing |
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Gas surprises: Gas light and gas fireplace lines and valves may be "live" in older homes which used natural gas to supply energy to gas fireplaces or even to gas lights. Never assume that an old gaslight fixture (photo at left) is safe and that the piping does not contain gas. Often these fixtures were converted to electricity, having wires run conveniently through existing gas piping.
But an old gas fixture that has not been electrified may still release. Before you connect any gas appliance call experts from Mr Drain Plumbing ® to run a test for the gas leaks then the expert will make the connection at no additional |
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| Copyright 2010 Mr Drain® Plumbing |
At Mr Drain Plumbing ® as we also specialize in the Leak detection technology click to learn more.
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| If you discover a Gas leak do the following |
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Determine the danger. The safety of people is always the first thing to consider. If it is difficult to breathe or the smell is very strong or you can hear a loud sound of escaping gas leave the kitchen immediately and get any other people out of the building. Call using a neighbor's telephone for emergency help. Do not turn on light switches, or use the telephone in or around the kitchen.
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Check the stove burners. If you can breathe easily and the smell of gas is not overpowering and you cannot hear a loud sound of escaping gas, check the stove for burners that are on but not burning. The knobs should all be in the same position ( off ). Turn all knobs to off. |
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Check the oven. Look for an oven control knob. It should be in the off position. Turn the control knob to off. On a modern oven the control may be electronic. Pressing the off or cancel button will turn off the gas. |
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Check the clothes dryer. Some clothes dryers are gas operated. If this is the case, turn the dryer control knob to off or press the off button. If it is not clear that the dryer is operated by gas do not operate the controls. |
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Contact the gas company. Not all propane and natural gas supply companies will come to a residence and test for gas leaks. They will also not perform the repair but they will identify the source of the gas leak. Here you need an expert from Mr Drain Plumbing ® to detect the leak and fix it. |
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Copyright 2010 Mr Drain® Plumbing |
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Get the leak repaired. Gas leaks, even very small gas leaks, will not fix themselves. Contact the experts from Mr Drain Plumbing ® they are certified in locating and repairing the leak. |
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Get people out of danger. Natural gas and propane are explosive. An accumulation of gas can destroy a building if it finds a source of ignition. Something as simple as turning on a light switch can cause the explosion. If there is any uncertainty about how severe the gas leak is, get all people out of the house. When all the people are accounted for and at a safe place then call for help. The gas company or 911 emergency services can help. Do not call from anywhere near the kitchen. Preferably call from a neighbor’s house. |
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If breathing is difficult or the smell is very strong or you hear gas escaping, call 911 from a NEIGHBORS house |
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