GAS SAFETY CHECKS

It is too often taken for granted that once the gas pipes are installed everything will be OK. WRONG!!!!

Often we get called out to households where the gas meter has been changed , before the new meter is commissioned , a soundness test is carried out to make sure its safe to turn the gas back on. If your not in at the time of the meter change you might find a note in your letter box to say that your gas has been turned off because a leak in the system was suspected.

It could be that when the gas was turned off a pilot light on your heater didn't close of the gas supply, which is what it should do when its working properly. We have found leaks in galvanized gas pipe work in roof spaces, the sealing compound used on joints in the past had dried up after a long period of temperature changes, the compound started to crack and gas was coming out.

Galvanized pipe work in the ground was found corroded and is sometimes in such a condition that it collapses under the weight of the soil above it.  Often you can see these kind of leaks in spots where the ground is drier than elsewhere in the garden, we've seen branches of trees dying off because the roots of the tree are in the area of the underground gas leak, so if you can't smell it you could look for these sort of signs. But most of all you will be able to see it in your gas bill.  Another easy way to detect any gas leak, is by turning off all gas appliances and take note of the dial of the gas meter. Write down the setting and check it again half an hour later and reference the 2 readings with each other. There should be no difference in the readings.

If your not sure give us a shout and we can check it for you there is a charge involved though. And if  it does come to renewing gas pipe or fixing appliance problems your at the right address.

It often works out that the cost of a repair is no way near as expensive as the high gas bill you need to pay every quarter.

Roof blown off in gas explosion Two women and a girl, 6, have been injured in an explosion that ripped the roof off a house in suburban Adelaide.      The blast, at about 8 am yesterday, was believed to have been caused by a gas leak, the Metropolitan Fire Service said. Both women, aged 44 and 28, were in serious but stable conditions with burns and facial injuries, a Royal Adelaide Hospital spokes woman said. The child was thought to have escaped the explosion with little injury but was taken to hospital for assessment. Written by Border Mail June 3, 2007.

Under no circumstances should you try and find a gas leak with a lighter, you probably think why give us such silly advice, but we are all human beings and we all make mistakes, and gas is one of these things that should not be taken for granted, leave it to the experts.

Upon completion of any gas work we check the installation for soundness it is the responsibility of the gas fitter to make sure he leaves it safe with his customer.

TESTIMONIAL

21 December 2007

To the Operations Manager

Gaswatch Australia

Po Box 49

Woodcroft 5162

Dear Sir,

Whilst it was a shock to learn that you had detected a gas leak when we simply wanted the clock and light fixed on our oven. I can report that there has already been a noticeable drop in our gas account and more importantly a removal of the risk of a fire or explosion.

I appreciate the time the engineer took to locate the leak and the professional manner in which he undertook in repairing the leak and restoring the wall afterwards. More importantly few tradesman show respect for a home or clean up after themselves. This was most appreciated.

My wife was also pleased that your engineer was able to fix the clock and not have to replace it

I would be more than happy to recommend your company to anyone

Yours sincerely

Paul Worthington

Just to mention a few

Man unhurt in gas explosion in Adelaide house

A man has escaped a gas explosion at a house at Brahma Lodge in Adelaide's northern suburbs.

Police think he was trying to light a gas oven when it exploded, at the house on The Strand.

They say the man is unhurt.

John Foody from the Metropolitan Fire Service says the explosion blew out the front windows and the back wall of the house.

"In the front rooms the floorboards have lifted up, whole sections have been dislodged from the floor so once again a major blast," he said.

A neighbour Denise Ratsch heard the blast from across the road.  "Just an enormous explosion, sounded like big truck had bashed into something," she said.

There was also a big gas explosion at a house at Goodwood last week, which injured three people. Investigators have confirmed that natural gas caused the Goodwood blast, but say the source is unclear.

The Office of the Technical Regulator says early findings show there was no gas appliance leaking inside the house. It is waiting to interview two women who remain in hospital.

The Technical Regulator Robert Faunt says they are investigating how the gas became concentrated under the floorboards. "We're unsure where that gas has come from. It could come from the pipe that's coming into the house, it may have come from the street and could have possibly come from sewer gas potentially," he said.

"It may be one of those investigations where you never find out for sure where the gas has come from.

"The message that comes out of this … is that if people ever smell gas it's very important that they do report it and have it investigated."