Jack what if the small leak is from a corroded pipe , with a pinhole in the middle of a rusty nipple next to a burner?
Yes, use common sense, but remember the Headline could read…
DAYTON DAILY NEWS - IDIOT HOME INSPECTOR CAUSES CHILDREN TO DIE in GAS EXPLOSION.
STATES HIS SOP DOES NOT ALLOW USING SHUTOFF…
I agree. I didn’t understand the question to mean that you had to shut-off the main at the meter.
I would try to isolate the area and shut off that branch. I would attempt to minimize the danger to the inhabitants above all else.
Bob I voted to shut the valve off, but as you can see above I would use common sense and weigh the outcome of my actions. D_mn if it meant that someone was in danger I might even fix the thing myself (at least temporarily). Hopefully, I’ll never be stuck where the only 2 choices were letting children freeze or burn in an explosion. I’m pretty sure I could come up with a third option.
There you go.
I am sure you would make the right choice.
When running gas line for Sears , I discovered a big leak right in the middle of an elboe.
It turns out this was a big defect problem with a particular shipment from China.
Never made the news, which makes you wonder how much we never hear about.
Sorry to go off a little but I guess I have seen my share of gas dangers.
I don’t see how you can not shut it off. I myself do not want the liability of noting it in my report and then having something happen to the house. Would anyone?
Perhaps I was too general. I would turn off the gas at the source if possible. I also would notify everyone I believe need to be notified such as gas company buyer , seller, agents etc. I would leave the premises immediately if I believed it was a dangerous situation as well.
Same story here, years ago I was inspecting a home in New England and the cellar had a very bad gas smell, I shut off the main and called the gas company on my cell, 5 mins laterr the street was full of fire crews and cops redirecting traffic, 15 mins later the gas company showed up and repaired the leak.
Homeowner gas plumbing still scares the crap out of me, in the above someone had taken out a gas stove and not capped the line properly.
Regards
Gerry
Joe I understand the legal ramifications but if The home owner/RE agent was not at the inspection I’d call the local gas company (I’d call the gas co./fire dept. myself and explain the situation. They have a zero tolerance for gas leaks (at least where I am). All gas leaks receive emergency response (within one hour from the call). If the leak is before the gas **** I will shut it down at the meter and ensure the leak stopped (soap bubbles). if it’s at the appliance I shut it down at the service valve for that appliance and make sure the leak stopped (soap bubbles again). I’m not going to let a gas leak turn into a gas explosion endangering an entire neighborhood which is more likely if it is a vacant house. How long would the gas have time to potentially build up until the proper air/fuel mixture is reached?
PS: I’m not picking a fight here, just stating my opinion and reasoning. It’s a personal and business decision I can live with. My father barely survived a gas explosion back in 1998 … I’ll always cut the gas and alert the proper authorities.
Do you remember hearing about the Attleboro MA George street gas explosion in 1998?
Hi Chris, yes I remember that I think there was a big court case as well over that, I think some city workers were killed.
Regards
Gerry
Playing devils advocate, IDIOT INSPECTOR DOES NOT EVACUATE PREMISES AND CALL PROPER AUTHORITIES, TRIES TO RESOLVE SITUATION HIMSELF!
I usually light up a cigarette and think about it first.
I believe that you should always shut off the utility. If there is a concern of safety. And with a gas leak that is a big deal no matter whether the gas leak is big or small. I was inspecting a vacant house but the furniture and property were still there. The owners were living in another house. Everything was fine until opened the 2nd story attic hatch. I smelled natural gas and a lot of it. The rest of the house was fine and there was no smells. I immediate shut off the gas and called the gas company. They were there in about 15 minutes. They confirmed the gas in the attic and told everyone to leave. It was caused by a leak in the upstairs gas fireplace. Since the owners were not there some of the lights were on timers. This could of really been a big problem.
There’s one instance I would not turn anything off and would call nobody. When it is outside, propane ‘leaking’ from the regulator on the tank. 
John Kogel
www.allsafehome.ca
Sometimes
Small leaks outside at the meter yoke - I don’t shut off. Small leak at a BBQ grill or gas light - I will. If you ever stick your nose or gas detector (with the sensitivity dialed up) next to the gas control valve on a water heater, you will likely pick up some small amount of gas because they leak a minuscule, but typically detectable, amount. I don’t shut these off. You will also pick up some gas everytime an appliance ignites. Non-essential indoor appliance leaking - I will shut off.
“Always” seems like an unenlightened statement.
I believe that there is no negligence or liability in addressing the issue by immediately notifying:
You, as the inspector have the obligation to provide timely notification of imminent life safety issues, you do not have the authorization to resolve them by shutting down utilities. As a HI you are generally not an agent of the owner or the utility.
Washington Gas in my area says, get out of the house and do not turn off the gas. Limits of flammability are 4-14% and if the house is above 14% the gas will not ignite and they want to keep it that way until they show up to address the leak… Got in a little hot water a while back over shutting the gas off a few houses up the street when the owner called the gas co and I shut off the main.
In Florida we do not ahve very many gas appliances , so I voted know , being that the only one authorized to turn it back on is a certified gas contractor at a cost of $100 or so. I would have conacted the realtor and owner and anyone who could get a shut off authorized , and would never not follow up.
i am a certified gas fitter and the answer is simple. If you smell gas leave the property promptly and do not touch anything. Notify the proper authority and the vendor and the home owner and anyone who may attempt to enter the propery.
The lower and upper explosive limits of natural gas are between 5 and 15 %. That is it will not explode in concentration below 5% and above 15%, therefore high levels are not that bad and low levels are not as well.The human nose is not able to distinguish these levels and electronic devises are not reliable enough to help. The bottom line is that any smell of gas is not good
Interesting to see this thread pop up again. I had forgotten all about it. I participated in another similar thread a few months ago on ActiveRain.
Curious to read others thoughts on the AR thread.
All Residential Gas Piping systems leak…Period…
Your Active Rain buddy is an Idiot…as evidenced by his blog post and “Experiment”.
:shock: