OT: What changes to the air does natural gas cause?

[tetragon]

What changes to the quality of the air does natural gas cause? The friends who helped me move noticed a slight gas smell, but I didn't notice any difference in air quality, even after not being near the old apartment for a few days. The air tasted the same, I didn't notice any feeling of humidity, temperature, or volatility differences. So how could they tell that there was anything different about the air?

[Slinky]

Some people have more sensitive noses and stronger sense of smell than others. And we get acclimated to the odors in our own home that others who live elsewhere can pick up on when they visit in our home.

[BlackSpinner]

What changes to the quality of the air does natural gas cause? The friends who helped me move noticed a slight gas smell, but I didn't notice any difference in air quality, even after not being near the old apartment for a few days. The air tasted the same, I didn't notice any feeling of humidity, temperature, or volatility differences. So how could they tell that there was anything different about the air?

It doesn't smell - they add it. Mostly you die because it replaces the oxygen or some spark blows up the building.

[tetragon]

So, the way to tell that I'm near gas is that I'll blow up or otherwise die. How dramatic. Time to keep a very close eye on my stove's four pilot lights (that I know of, I haven't checked the oven yet).

[RandyJ]

They add a component to natural gas to give it an unmistakable, strong odor. If you had a gas leak in your apartment, you would smell it. You would want to open a window. Neighbors in the same building would probably smell it. If your windows were closed, the smell would get stronger and stronger as the gas replaced the air.

[tetragon]

As only two out of three people noticed any gas smell, even when outside, walking past the gas meter, that means it probably wasn't gas? It's not like I noticed anything strange about the air.

[fuzzy96]

natural gas has no odor they add a sulfate type chemical to give it a smell.
some people cannot smell it.
like h2s exposure can wweaken your ability to smell it.
for people who cannot smell it there are gas detectors that can alarm you . some places require these by code. ant propane supplier can get these for you '
all new campers,travel trailers and such are required by federal standards to have these installed from the manufacturer.

[nanwilson]

Natural gas is colorless, no humidity, ..............you would only notice it by the odor, and yes it kills.
Most gas companies will come out and check your lines for free if you give them a phone call. I had a leak at the intake on the outside of my house, my neighbours could smell it but I could not. I did have a headache that was quickly getting worse. The guy from the gas company told me it was a good thing the neighbour smelled it when he was mowing the grass.

[archangle]

Natural gas is odorless. Utilities almost always add a chemical to the gas delivered to your home that has a "skunk" smell so you'll know there's a leak.

With most smells, if you smell it all the time, you may not smell it after a while if the smell is there all the time. I think this can happen with natgas.

The big risk is explosion or fire. Any known health effects only happen at much higher concentrations.

In theory, natgas is not toxic other than mechanically displacing oxygen if the concentration is high enough. If you put enough of any gas other than oxygen into the air, you'll eventually suffer or die from lack of oxygen. Some people think there are toxic effects from natgas or contaminants in the commercial natgas supply.

I'd rather not breathe it on a regular basis, but am not terribly worried about it other than the explosion/fire risk.

You can buy combination carbon monoxide/natgas detectors that are sort of like smoke detectors. The ones you buy are not that sensitive, mostly detecting explosive concentrations. I have one, but don't put a lot of faith in it. The gas company should have more sensitive natgas detectors to find leaks.

Some parts of the world used to use "town gas" or "coal gas," which is part carbon monoxide, and is terribly toxic. I don't think it was ever common in the US. The UK used to use it, but I think it's rarely used in the UK today. I don't know if it's used in houses anywhere in the world today.

Natgas from wells and some pipelines may not have odorant added and may not smell. They use refrigerated liquid natural gas in some big trucks and other uses and this will not necessarily smell either.

[BlackSpinner]

As only two out of three people noticed any gas smell, even when outside, walking past the gas meter, that means it probably wasn't gas? It's not like I noticed anything strange about the air.

Just call the gas company and tell them that some people are smelling gas. They will send someone out to check it asap. They really, really want to catch it when it is just a whiff, before it blows up the building....

[MidnightOwl]

I agree with the other posters. If 2 other people smelled gas you need to call your gas company even if you smelled nothing. It's better to have them come out and maybe find nothing than the other way around.

[Tip10]

They add a component to natural gas to give it an unmistakable, strong odor. If you had a gas leak in your apartment, you would smell it. You would want to open a window. Neighbors in the same building would probably smell it. If your windows were closed, the smell would get stronger and stronger as the gas replaced the air.

The component they add is various different chemical combinations of the chemical Mercaptan.

If you have a VERY STRONG smell of natural gas in your apartment you SHOULD NOT open a window -- you should immediately exit and call the authorities.

Natural Gas is ONLY explosive in concentrations roughly between 5 and 15% -- below 5% and above 15% it will not explode -- a VERY STRONG smell of NatGas may indicate concentrations above the explosive limit -- opening a window would serve to dillute the gas down into the explosive range.

At an rate, if you smell the odorant in NatGas you should call the local gas company -- they've got the sniffers and other equipment to locate and isolate leaks -- you should not be able to smell NatGas from properly operating appliances.

[jmcanzo]

This is what a gas leak can do.... I live about 5 miles from where this happened. I shook my house. The gas co WAS Called earlier in the morning, but it blew before they found the leak. http://www.freep.com/article/20101229/N ... ture-store

CALL THE GAS COMPANY NOW!

[Goofproof]

Small natural gas leaks like pilot lights don't pose much of a problem, big ones do. Be sure to worry about water in your pipes, people can drown from water. Nothing it 100% foolproof to a fool, we face danger from everything we use in our lives,it's part of life. You need to match the threat to the result. Jim

How many in one square mile of your house have been harmed by natural gas, NONE.

















































































































































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[chunkyfrog]

The gas company will check it for free; If you can't reach them, the fire department will--also free.
--as far as I know. Even if there were a charge, it would be totally worth it.