Originally Posted By: pdickerson This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
How may inspectors out there check for gas leaks. I know it is beyond the SOP, but I use a meter to check for leaks at every home I inspect that has gas. The other day I found 5 gas leaks in one home. That was a record for me. BTW, the seller was quite upset with me for turning off the gas to the leaking equipment.
Originally Posted By: gbeaumont This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Hi to all,
Paul, please don't take this as insulting, I post it as a warning to our members only.
Please ensure that if you are checking for gas leaks using a Tiff 8800 or similar, that it is properly calibrated and that you are not picking up readings from other VOC's, the gas sniffers are a good idicator, but do come up with a lot of false readings if used improperly.
I can set up a Tiff 8800 to go of if you are off gasing from to much beer last night, if you know what I mean 
Originally Posted By: bemelander This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I do it the other way around. If I smell gas I use my Tiff meter to locate the leak. I have had some false readings from my tiff so it stays in the bag unless I smell gas.
Originally Posted By: pdickerson This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Gerry,
I could have used your advice a year ago. On one occasion, I measured a slight reading with my gas meter, and I also smelled a faint gas odor. I recommended repairs by the gas company. They came out and found nothing. I was lucky enough to be in the neighborhood. I met the gas company tech at the home. I showed him the leak that my meter and my nose picked up. He insisted that he could not smell it, and his meter did not pick it up. He also produced a document that stated there is an acceptable leak rate in the industry. He also held his lighter up to the pipe in question to prove to me that there was no leak. It was an educational day to say the least.
I have come to know my gas meter very well. It responds to lots of things besides gas, including temperature changes. I will not report a gas leak if I can't smell it. There are lots of things you can teach in a classroom, but I have learned that effectively reporting on gas leaks requires hands on experience.
Originally Posted By: bkelly2 This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Paul, everything leaks, every system has acceptable leak rates. The trick then becomes knowing the leak rates and the best way to validate the leak rates.
I believe in using my nose and falling back on soapy water. I believe the gas meters are too sensetive and will get one into more trouble than not.
Will that was very funny    
-- "I used to be disgusted, Now I try to Be amused"-Elvis Costello
Originally Posted By: kshepard This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Bacharach Leakator ll. Kept calibrated, appears to go off when around the colors white or brown or when someone within 10 ft uses improper grammar or thinks about sex.
Originally Posted By: lkage This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
bemelander wrote:
I do it the other way around. If I smell gas I use my Tiff meter to locate the leak. I have had some false readings from my tiff so it stays in the bag unless I smell gas.
Bill
I like the nose first method too...mine, the clients, their dads, the realtors, etc. 
-- "I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him."
Galileo Galilei
Originally Posted By: dvalley This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
If you can’t smell gas in a home, leave the TIFF in your tool bag.
If I were to break out my TIFF in every home I inspect, I will find a leak (whether it be minute or major) in every home.
Most Gas Valves, regulators and pipe threads do leak (very minor) and the TIFF will pick them up. So unless you want to look bad in front of plumbers on a daily basis, use your nose. I utilize my TIFF strictly to locate a gas leak only when I smell it.
Originally Posted By: pdickerson This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
US and Canadian standards allow a maximum leak rate at most gas appliances of 235 cc/hour at internal valves and controls, and 200 cc/hour external. This correlates to 12 BTU’s per hour of propane. I believe the ANSI standard is Z21/83.
I was not able to locate the standards, but I found a presentation of the safety standards by Frank Stanonik at the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association. The presentation can be found at the link below.
Originally Posted By: dvalley This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Quote:
and how professional does it look when a client sees you putting your nose up to all the fittings??? Did you goto school for that?
If I were the client and I saw you If putting your nose right up to the gas fittings, I'd probably laugh my as$ off.
No one stated that you had to put your nose right next to the fittings. I simply stated that if you can't smell gas (within the home) to leave your TIFF in your tool bag. A gas leak will smell without placing your nose up against all the pipes and fittings.
