Please assess my level of crazy

[justjen]

We have lived in our house for about a year and half.

In that time, at my urging, we've called about a gas smell 3 times. The most recent being last night at like 2 am.

The first time was right after we moved in, and it was a legitimate but tiny (i.e., not dangerous) leak. Like a pinhole. We were told to sleep elsewhere that night, and the gas company the next day offered a quick fix.

The second time was right after we switched from oil to gas heat. There was a definite smell in the basement. The crews came out and told us that it was "new boiler" smell, and it was fine, but it was good that we called.

Last night I got home from work at 1 am, pumped, and was cleaning up in the kitchen when I faintly smelled gas around our stove. No one had cooked anything for hours, and the smell was stronger than usual. I wake DH, who tries to assure me it's probably fine, but there is no way I'm going to be able to sleep until I get someone professional to tell me it's fine.

So that's how we wound up standing on the sidewalk at 2am holding the kids while something like 4 vehicles and 7 people determine that yes, everything was fine. DH was trying to be understanding, but I think he knew in his heart it was OK and reaaaallly didn't want to wake the kids, etc.

All the workers were exceptionally nice, saying not to feel bad, better safe than sorry, don't hesitate to call again, yadda yadda. DH understands where I was coming from, but I could tell deep down thought it was unnecessary and perhaps a little crazy. He was REALLY TRYING not to be annoyed. By the time we got everyone back to bed, it was after 3.

I just need a reality check. I know the internet says if you have any doubts, call. But am I maybe just a little over-the-top crazy here? I feel like I've lost my perspective.

[boxerdog]

No, I would freak out too. You aren't crazy. Do carbon monoxide detectors detect gas leaks? Maybe getting a few of those would make you feel better.

FWIW I freaked out when our heat came on last fall and our garage smelled like gas - my H had to talk me down.

[Deleted]

Do you have carbon monoxide detectors installed throughout your house? Perhaps that will help ease your worry. I don't think you are crazy. Better safe than sorry.

[karinothing]

Jul 31, 2015 10:42:47 GMT -5 @peggyolson said:

justjen

You need to buy one of these. www.homedepot.com/p/General-Tools-Pen-Style-Natural-Gas-Detector-PNG2000A/100651812?MERCH=REC-_-PIPHorizontal1_rr-_-202800802-_-100651812-_-N

This.

[justjen]

Jul 31, 2015 10:42:47 GMT -5 @peggyolson said:

justjen

You need to buy one of these. www.homedepot.com/p/General-Tools-Pen-Style-Natural-Gas-Detector-PNG2000A/100651812?MERCH=REC-_-PIPHorizontal1_rr-_-202800802-_-100651812-_-N

I DO. 

But then I probably wouldn't trust that a $30-something tool form Home Depot is as accurate as it needs to be, lol. But I think I will get one anyway. Thank you!

We have CO detectors upstairs, but yeah, isn't that different from gas? 

[Deleted]

We had an issue with gas at our old apartment. It was a side by side two family home. Our neighbor would smell gas every other week and my H and I did sometimes. It was a horrible over year long ordeal. Constantly calling them to come out. They would come and say everything was fine but it kept happening over and over and over again. Finally, one day it got really bad and that's when they realized there was a small leak in the pipe in front of the house.

What was happening was that as the temperature changed outside it changed the pressure in the ground. As the pressure changed it would force gas into the basement which was why we kept smelling it, then not, then again and so on. Each time they came out they had a meter thing that wouldn't detect High levels so they would tell us it was fine. It was so frustrating.

If you keep smelling it I would keep calling them. Better safe than sorry.

[kermit]

I don't blame you for calling. Did they offer any kind of explanation or just say it was fine? Seems odd that you would smell gas if there was no leak and the stove hadn't been used recently.

[justjen]

Jul 31, 2015 11:37:16 GMT -5 kermit said:

I don't blame you for calling. Did they offer any kind of explanation or just say it was fine? Seems odd that you would smell gas if there was no leak and the stove hadn't been used recently.

No, they just said it was fine.

[ewall]

No, don't feel bad about calling. The one time we had a leak, it was nearly impossible to find and it was tiny, but it was there. The tech from the gas company said in his experience, women were much more likely to smell gas and be correct about a leak. So since I was the one who smelled it, he kept looking until he found it.

If anything, it's on the gas company for sending multiple personnel and vehicles out in the middle of the night. Overreaction on their part One or two techs probably would have sufficed.

[bowies]

You aren't crazy. I've called the gas company and been told that I must have smelled something else only for their equipment to detect a leak. Trust your instincts. Better safe than sorry, etc.

ETA: And when my mom smelled gas she called the fire department who sent trucks over with lights and sirens on. You're good with just the gas company.

[londoncalling]

Had any of knobs on the stove been bumped into an open position? I know the girls have knocked the knobs on the stove without it igniting which = gas pouring into the kitchen.

[drloretta]

My H would have been you in this scenario. And I would have been ok with it

[brooklyn]

My mom works for our local electric/gas company and she has always drilled it into my head to always call. Don't feel bad, you're not crazy.

[justjen]

Thank you all for validating my crazy Seriously. I've been exhausted lately, and kinda feel like I've been losing it... it's nice to get some outside perspective.

[jeaniebueller]

If you are smelling it by your stove, have your husband do one of the soap bubble tests on your gas hose that leads to it. We had an on again and off again natural gas smell by our stove and turns out, we had a tiny leak that wasn't apparent at all times.

[panicked]

My old apartment smelled like gas. I had the landlord out once and the gas company out three times. Every time, I was assured it was fine. I called the gas company again and they came out for a fourth time...where they found a large gas leak in the basement. Always trust your gut.

[countthestars]

My dad works for the gas company. He says always call.

Eta: I think technically you are supposed to go outside before you call but it's probably nbd if it's faint enough that you are questioning the smell.

[chickadee77]

Look, my H is the most breezy EVAR about stuff, but when it comes to carbon monoxide, natural gas or burning smell, newp. Such a small inconvenience could prevent such a huge tragedy.

[justjen]

Jul 31, 2015 14:16:26 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

If you are smelling it by your stove, have your husband do one of the soap bubble tests on your gas hose that leads to it. We had an on again and off again natural gas smell by our stove and turns out, we had a tiny leak that wasn't apparent at all times.

What is this? These are not the sort of things my husband knows Useless pop culture is more out forte.

[Deleted]

Now you are making me wonder about the gas smell I have thought I smelled here and there in the house.
My husband smokes so I always think it's him playing with matches etc. ( he's weird)

[everafter07]

That happened to us at 3am, no kids at the time thankfully! Turned out to be "nothing," though I don't get how the smell can be there and then gone (we had both smelled it).

[badtzmaru22]

OMG this was me when we moved into our house. DH thought I was insane, and we had the gas company come out like three times, and the volunteer firemen came out, and it was a huge ordeal.

Turns out there was a teeny tiny leak in one of the parts if the fake logs in the gas fireplace. We never use it, so we just had it completely shut off at the source, and one day we'll replace the whole thing.

[greycat]

Jul 31, 2015 16:01:46 GMT -5 justjen said:

Jul 31, 2015 14:16:26 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

If you are smelling it by your stove, have your husband do one of the soap bubble tests on your gas hose that leads to it. We had an on again and off again natural gas smell by our stove and turns out, we had a tiny leak that wasn't apparent at all times.

What is this? These are not the sort of things my husband knows Useless pop culture is more out forte.

You put soap along the joints / pipe / hose. A small leak will form bubbles. Plummers use it to help identify small leaks. im guessing the utility company used little handheld sensors that can detect very small quantities of gas.

Please always call. I work for a utility company and they tell everyone (no matter what par of the company they work in or what job they do) to always call if you smell gas.

[madringal]

This would totally be me, I think I smell gas at least once a month. Thankfully my DH is an engineer for our gas company, so he politely checks it out and then pats my head and walks away.

[docholly]

My mom refused to listen to me about a gas smell in her house in the basement. She ignored it until I basically forced her to call. It was a definite gas leak. Trust your instincts.

[teatimefor2]

Trust your gut. When we moved in, I kept saying I would smell gas occasionally. DH NEVER smelt anything. Turns out we had a tiny leak, I finally called eight months later after a contractor said he also smelled gas. It was small, but I still feel guilty I didn't trust my gut and let DH tell me I was smelling things.

I'd call.

[t]

We had a random gas smell a few times and we couldn't pinpoint the source. We called every time and had someone come out. It was always fine. Then one night a neighbor was jogging and smelled gas and called the gas company. Within 30 minutes another neighbor smelled it and called while walking their dog. That's when we woke up to all kinds of people and equipment digging up our front yard. They said since it had rains so hard, the yard was waterlogged and when they ran their test, the leak was so bad that gas was bubbling up through the mud.

So I say not crazy.