How to Prevent a Furnace Gas Leak

For any homeowner, a furnace gas leak is a nightmare and a true emergency that requires immediate attention and repairs by a certified professional. A gas leak can be dangerous and even fatal for the health and well-being of everyone in your home. From the noxious fumes to the risk of an explosion, the reality is that any kind of gas leak is a very serious situation. But if you have the gas furnace professionals at ThemEnergy as a contact on your phone, you can sleep worry-free. We are standing by to calmly and safely help you with all furnace gas leak issues that you may be experiencing.  Also know, that despite what some companies on the internet may be writing to scare people about furnace gas leaks, they are very rare. Are they serious? Absolutely! But there have been very few documented cases each year of fatalities or injuries due to furnace gas leaks. 

However, there are a few simple steps you can take to ensure your family’s safety and security when it comes to potential gas leaks. The team of furnace repair professionals at ThermEnergy has put together this handy checklist that all homeowners can take advantage of. So if you’re wondering “how do I prevent a furnace gas leak?”, the main thing to keep in mind is prevention! Get ahead of the problems before they have time to snowball into a way bigger issue. Would you know if a gas leak was happening in your home and would you know what to do next? If you want to know more about preventing a furnace gas leak in your home, keep reading!

Ensure the Furnace is in Working Order

No matter whether you’ve just moved into a new home or you’ve been living in your current home for a long time, it’s always good to schedule annual maintenance and an inspection with your furnace repair company. A technician can inspect all the parts to ensure nothing is deteriorating or malfunctioning. They will also clean the furnace. 

You need to clean a furnace especially if you have an older furnace. Appliances that are many years old don’t have as many safeguards in place, don’t run as efficiently and are more prone to breakdowns over time. 

Not only will performing regular checks ensure that your furnace is safe, but keeping your furnace fully optimized for peak performance means that you’ll be heating your home more efficiently and ultimately saving money on utility bills.

A furnace repair expert can also advise you on the best type of furnace to get for your home if you need a new one. We’ll take into account the size of your home, the type of insulation, as well as how energy efficient your current windows and doors are. All of these play factors in determining what type of furnace you’ll need to properly heat your home. 

If your furnace repair expert can make little inexpensive fixes now, you are going to prevent having to spend really big bucks on more expensive repairs down the road. If you’re wondering when to schedule your gas furnace maintenance, we recommend doing so in the summer months.

That way, in case anything goes wrong, you won’t be without the heat you need to stay comfortable. It can also be more difficult to get an appointment in the winter because furnace repair companies are in higher demand with emergency calls during the colder temperatures.

Regular Maintenance

When you do schedule that annual furnace maintenance call, make sure it’s with a trained professional like the ones working at ThermEnergy. All of our technicians are fully licensed, insured and certified to work on all makes and models of furnaces.

If you hire someone with less experience who makes an improper connection or adjustment, you could be left with a furnace that’s still broken, or worse yet, an even bigger and more dangerous problem to deal with.

Make sure to schedule an annual maintenance call with someone who has the credentials and references to back up any claims of exceptional service.

Avoid DIY Gas Furnace Repair

In the age of YouTube where anybody can learn pretty much anything by watching a few videos, there are still a few things you’ll want to avoid doing yourself. That includes furnace repair. 

Furnaces are complex and dangerous machines and should really only be worked on by certified professionals who have years of experience and training. We know it’s tempting to take on a challenge by yourself and save some money, but when your family and your home are on the line, you don’t want to take any chances. One wrong adjustment or ill-fitted component could easily lead to disaster.

Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector

Besides taking preventative measures to avoid a gas furnace leak in the first place, there are many safety nets you can implement in your home as a failsafe, in case the unthinkable happens. You can never be too careful when it comes to gas and safety. 

The number one thing we recommend for every homeowner to do is to install a carbon monoxide detector, ideally one on every floor and especially in the same room as your furnace or boiler. 

A few years ago Ontario actually passed a law making it mandatory for homeowners to have a functioning carbon monoxide detector in each sleeping area of the home to detect potential carbon monoxide emanating from a garage, fuel-burning appliance or fireplace. 

Make sure that your carbon monoxide alarm has a battery-backup system for in case the power goes out and be sure to swap out the batteries for fresh ones approximately every six months, just like you would with your smoke detectors.

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odourless gas and many tragedies have occurred because families did not have one of these life-saving alarms installed.

Listen for Hissing

One tip-off that you may be experiencing a gas leak is an audio cue. If you have a broken gas line you may hear a faint hissing noise, which is the sound of the gas escaping through the line. Don’t try to fix anything yourself. Call for professional help right away to get this fixed as soon as possible.

Check Gas Lines

Another clue that you have a gas leak is a visual one. Look at your lawn or other plant life where your gas line may be running underground outside. If there is a gas leak, it will slowly kill all the vegetation around the line. If this is the case, do not attempt to dig up the line yourself. Call in a professional to excavate the area and repair the line before the damage gets worse or puts someone in danger.

Know the Smell of Carbon Monoxide

The final clue of a gas leak is something you’ll need to use your nose for! While natural gas used to heat your home technically doesn’t smell like anything, companies will add a special chemical to the gas that makes it smell like sulfur, or more familiarly, like rotten eggs. 

If you ever detect this smell in your home, it means that there is indeed a gas furnace leak and you should evacuate the home immediately. Once you are safely outside, it’s time to call an emergency number so crews can come to assess the situation and fix the leak. In some cases, crews may ask your neighbours and people in surrounding homes to vacate their homes as well.

Furnace Repair Technicians Near You

Hopefully, these tips will help you and your family feel better prepared to deal with the rare occurrence of a furnace gas leak. It’s not something you should live in fear of day-to-day, because as we mentioned earlier, the chance of it actually happening is not very likely. 

But with regularly scheduled furnace maintenance to keep your appliance running properly, and keeping in mind the warning signs of a gas leak, you should be ready to face whatever type of issue comes your way. Also, you can pass this knowledge on to your friends and extended family. Preventing accidents and tragedy is all about educating yourself and taking the necessary precautions. You simply can’t put a price on safety.

Of course, part of prevention is teaming up with an experienced furnace repair team like the one at ThermEnergy. For years, homeowners in the Greater Toronto Area have trusted ThermEnergy with all of their furnace installation and repairs needs. We’re even available in emergency situations to provide the services you need when you need them. 

Whether you think you have a gas leak or you want to schedule an annual maintenance visit, cleaning and inspection, we’ll work with your schedule to coordinate a convenient time to quickly and safely get the work done. Every one of our technicians is fully trained and up-to-date on local safety codes and regulations for your peace of mind. 

Never trust an amateur or someone with less experience to work on your furnace or other HVAC appliances. Call up the pros at ThermEnergy today to book your consultation and get an estimate for the work you need done today! 

Your comfort is key and you deserve the best so don’t settle for less. Contact ThermEnergy now and keep following our blog for even more tips on taking care of your household energy appliances.