Sometimes the biggest dangers are the dangers you can’t even see. Certain deadly gases can creep into your home through various means. Radon, carbon monoxide, natural gas, and others can build up and get indoors.
Once there, they can cause asphyxiation, poisoning, and even death. Fortunately, there are ways to stop these gases from getting in and hurting you and the ones you love. Here are the top four signs of deadly gases in your house.
1. Rotten Smells
Some gases can alert you to a leak. Natural gas by itself is odourless, but the company that provides it should add a harmless chemical called mercaptan to it. Mercaptan is what gives natural gas the horrible and unmistakable smell of rotten eggs. That stench should be your first tip-off that there’s something amiss.
If you smell rotten eggs, leave the house and alert the gas company before anyone suffers from poisoning or the gas ignites and explodes. As for other gases, many have no smell at all. But you should always investigate overwhelming odours to see if they’re coming from harmless or harmful sources.
2. Sinister Symptoms
Not all gas leaks cause the same symptoms, but several are common among them. You may experience dizziness, nausea, fatigue, headaches, or trouble breathing with no apparent cause. These could result from illnesses, but you shouldn’t discount the possibility of deadly gases being present. If multiple people share the same symptoms, leave and have your home tested at once. Such symptoms could mean carbon monoxide or natural gas has leaked into your home.
3. Sick Pets
In so many ways, animals are far more sensitive to changes in the environment than humans. If your pet seems inexplicably tired, lethargic, or not well, have a veterinarian look at them and note if you’re beginning to experience similar symptoms.
The sudden death of a pet, particularly if they spend time in the lower part of the home or garage, can also be a big warning that a deadly gas has infiltrated the home. Hopefully, you can catch the issue before it further harms you or your pets. But their reaction can be a literal “canary in the coal mine.”
4. Dying Plants
If you take good care of your plants, but they die for no apparent reason, a gas leak might be one cause. Outdoor plants that grow over pipes may wilt, turn brown, and slowly die in the presence of natural gas or the like. The gas keeps them from getting the carbon dioxide and oxygen they require to live and thrive. Also, look for bubbling puddles and pools of water around the house’s perimeter. Gas could be escaping.
What to Do About Deadly Gases
Those are the top four signs of deadly gases in your house. As mentioned, act before any of the above things happen. Test for gases like carbon monoxide. Install CO, radon, and other gas detectors around your home. Finally, maintain good ventilation. Every breath is precious—make sure yours are safe!
