Mike Painter
Flashlight Enthusiast
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2002
- Messages
- 1,863
The essence of this little tale is that the normal odor of natural gas may be a lot different if the concentrations are low enough.
A couple weeks ago I noticed a smell of "carmalized onions" in my kitchen. It came and went and I poked my nose into drawers, cabinets, garbage cans as well as behind stove and refregerator.
Nothing.
This morning I heard a hiss which stopped when I touched the gas line behind my stove. Soapy water did not reveal any leaks.
I went to move the pipe again and got a shock where an extension cord crossed the pipe... It turns out that there was a pinhole leak at this point which was being blocked frequently by the movement of the cord. BUT the cord was being damaged enough so that sooner or later it - hopefully would have blown a fuse before causing a spark.
Even after finding and feeling the leak it was not enough to give the normal smell but rather a not unpleasant smell similar to sauted onions where it concentrated in the middle of the room.
I called PG&E and they acknowlegded this different smell is not uncommon.
Now I'm going to get a match and see if there are any leaks in my repair.
Talk to you later????
A couple weeks ago I noticed a smell of "carmalized onions" in my kitchen. It came and went and I poked my nose into drawers, cabinets, garbage cans as well as behind stove and refregerator.
Nothing.
This morning I heard a hiss which stopped when I touched the gas line behind my stove. Soapy water did not reveal any leaks.
I went to move the pipe again and got a shock where an extension cord crossed the pipe... It turns out that there was a pinhole leak at this point which was being blocked frequently by the movement of the cord. BUT the cord was being damaged enough so that sooner or later it - hopefully would have blown a fuse before causing a spark.
Even after finding and feeling the leak it was not enough to give the normal smell but rather a not unpleasant smell similar to sauted onions where it concentrated in the middle of the room.
I called PG&E and they acknowlegded this different smell is not uncommon.
Now I'm going to get a match and see if there are any leaks in my repair.
Talk to you later????