Our homes are powered by natural gas in a variety of ways. Some use natural gas to heat their water, some use it to control the temperature of their home, and some use it for cooking. All of this said it’s important to understand the dangers that accompany our use of natural gas.
There are several dangers to be aware of when dealing with a gas leak. The most important are:
Fires and Explosions
Hazards to Human Health
Harm to Animals and Vegetation
Impact on the Environment
Keep reading to learn more about each of them.
Fires and Explosions
Natural gas is an incredibly flammable substance that can be ignited by anything creating a spark such as flipping a light switch, turning on a pilot light, or lighting a cigarette.
Hazards to Human Health
The leaking of natural gas into your home at a minimum will reduce the oxygen levels in your space, making it more difficult to breathe. However, the consequences can also be much more extreme. The constant inhalation of natural gas over long periods of time can lead to nausea, fatigue, dizziness, headaches, loss of consciousness, coordination problems, loss of memory, and extreme fatigue. It can also cause poisoning, nose bleeds, depression, and flu-like symptoms.
Harm to Animals and Vegetation
As with most things, if natural gas can harm our bodies, it can also harm the other living things in your home like your plants and pets. Gas leaks will have a similar effect on your pets as it does to you, only they will start to have symptoms at a faster rate because of their smaller size.
Impact on the Environment
One of the major components of natural gas is methane, which is a greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation, which contribur\tes to the warming of the atmosphere and our planet. This is more likely to happen on the pipeline level than in an individual gas leak at a residence, but it’s still important to keep in mind these impacts.
If you suspect that there is a gas leak in your home, visit our “What to Do if There’s a Gas Leak?” guide for a step by step process. Call the gas plumbing experts at AWS Plumbing, Heating & Cooling or visit us online for more information about gas plumbing in New York City.