Furances

When it comes to you and your family's safety you can't be too persistent or diligent.  I recently thought I smelled gas in my home so I called the fire department to check it out.  I knew they could get there the quickest.

When the firemen came in two of them thought they could smell gas but when they got out there equipment it didn't show a reading.  I have both a gas powered furnace and hot water heater so they checked both areas.  They also went up into the attic to make sure nothing was wrong there.

One of the firemen told me that the gas company has different equipment that would be able to test for a gas leak better.  He encouraged me to call them and have the furnace checked out just in case. 

I called the gas company and sure enough there was something faulty in the furnace.  So a repairman came out and fixed the problem and then the gas company turned the gas back on. 

A little while later I thought I smelled gas again, but wondered if I was imagining it.  I opened all the windows and doors for an hour or so to make sure the house was cleared.  After I shut the windows and doors I knew I could smell gas again.  So another call, this time after hours, to the gas company. 

They came out and sure enough there was another problem.  The repairman came back out, and found that fixing one problem had let to another.  Eventually the problem got fixed and the gas was turned back on the next day.  Kudos to my repairman, he did not charge me for the second visit.

About a week later I took the trash out to the alley and I could smell gas AGAIN.  At least this time it wasn't in my house.  I again called the gas company and they sent someone out.  The technician could smell something but didn't think it was gas.  But although he didn't think it was he did go back to get some more testing equipment to be sure.

Sure enough when he tested it he found a problem.  Apparently problems can occur on older gas meters when they are turned off and back on. 

If the firemen that had came to my house would have just said no leak because that was what their equipment said then this story could have had a whole different outcome. While I am sure I would have pursued it right away even if they had said that, others might not.

So the moral of the story is; if you think you smell gas, call someone.  And unless someone can pinpoint the odor FOR SURE to something other than a gas leak, then call someone else.  Never once was I positive it was gas I was smelling but I wanted to be positive it wasn't. You too should ask questions and demand answers until you are 100 percent certain that your family is not at risk.

Sidenote: Several people suggested I get a carbon monoxide detector to be safe.  I agree that every home should have one, but a carbon monoxide detector will not detect natural gas.  You need a special detector for that.  Also detectors do you no good if the batteries are dead, be sure and change them twice a year.  I always replace mine when the time changes.  Keep in mind dectors, including smoke detectors, don't last forever.  Make sure yours are working properly, you never know when your family's lives could depend on them.