What is soapy water test?

For half the country, natural gas is the way we heat our homes, cook food, heat water, and dry our clothing. While usually safe, there are circumstances where natural gas can become dangerous. Improperly installed or poorly maintained gas lines can lead to gas leaks, which can create major problems for your health and your home.

Being able to detect a gas leak, and knowing how to repair a simple leak can go a long way toward keeping things in your home running safely. 

Natural Gas Leaks

Natural gas is made up of methane, non-hydrocarbon gases, and other natural gas liquids. It’s a fossil energy that is found under the earth’s surface. A leak occurs when a gas line or appliance springs a leak. The natural gas in the pipeline starts to seep out into the areas around where the leak is. These are more likely to happen in old, deteriorated pipes where small fractures can occur. 

The Dangers

Natural gas is non-toxic, but that doesn’t mean it can’t cause problems. High concentrations of natural gas can cause dizziness or issues with breathing, it can kill vegetation, trees, and houseplants, cause flammable mixtures to explode when exposed to open air, and cause costly property damage. On top of all that, leaks can also make your gas bill go up. 

Detection

1. Rotten Egg Smell

If you smell sulphur or rotten eggs in your home, there’s a chance you have a gas leak. That’s because most natural gas companies put an additive called mercaptan into natural gas, in order to make it smell that way. This way, it’s easily detected.

2. Whistling or Hissing Noises

If you hear either of these sounds near your gas line, it could be a sign that you have a substantial leak happening. Make sure you’re near a gas line, as it could be other appliances you’re hearing. 

3. Check the Stove Top

When you first turn on a burner on your stove, the flame should be blue. If it’s giving off an orange or red flame, that could be a sign that there’s gas in the air, taking away oxygen. 

4. Gas Leak Detector

Using a gas leak detector is the easiest and most efficient way to figure out if you have a gas leak. 

5. The Soapy Water Test

Soapy water can help you detect a gas leak. Mix a teaspoon of soap in water, and spray or put the solution on the area that you suspect is leaking. If bubbles start to show up, it’s an indication that you have a leak. 

Prevention

Routine maintenance is the best way to prevent a gas leak from happening in the first place. This includes equipment and appliances that use natural gas, like stoves, dryers, hot water heaters, and fireplaces. You can also check gas lines for signs of corrosion and fractures. 

If you really want to have your home checked out, a professional plumber can come out and check all of your gas lines, and recommend any repairs or replacements. 

The 3 Best Gas Leak Detectors and Sensors

1. Propane and Natural Gas Detectors

These detectors offer portable, extension, or plug-in options. Some options are better for different reasons. For instance, a portable device is better for searching for a gas leak, while a device that stays in your kitchen can detect gas leaks 24 hours a day. 

2. Carbon Monoxide Alarm

Appliances that use gas can give off carbon monoxide when the gas they’re using experiences incomplete combustion, which can be harmful or even cause death. A carbon monoxide detector can pick up on carbon monoxide in the atmosphere, and alert you to its presence. 

3. Carbon Monoxide and Explosive Gas Detector

This alarm is a hybrid, meaning it can detect both carbon monoxide and explosive gases, such as methane, propane, and other natural gases. 

How to Fix Leaks

Working with gas can be quite dangerous, and only done in full confidence. 

1. Turn off the gas. This is your first step, and most important when working with gas. Once the gas is off, remove the outer covers of the gas line to expose the line. Make sure to wear a mask to avoid inhaling any fumes, and wear gloves to protect your hands. 

1. Detach the Gas Line. High pressure in the line can often be responsible for leaks. Detaching the line is required in order to complete any repairs. 

1. Remove any gas residue, and clean the gas line. You may have to crack the fittings on the high pressure line, which will require a wrench. Use acetone to clean the high-pressure line, removing any debris or impurities which could lead to another gas leak. 

1. Attach the gas line, making sure it fits loosely, as to avoid creating any more leaks. Use rubber tape to hold the pipe in place, and ensure the leak is sealed. Make sure the angles are correct. 

1. Apply epoxy, following the directions on the label. Leave it to dry overnight. Once this is done, tighten the high pressure line’s fittings. Then you can install the low-pressure gas line. 

1. Test the gas line, to make sure the repair worked. Using the detection method of your choice, turn the gas back on, and check to make sure it’s no longer leaking. If everything is good to go, put the covers back on the gas lines. 

1. If you’re stumped, or the leak turns out to be bigger than you expected, call a licensed plumber, who can help to take care of the issue for you. 

Gas leak help in the New Orleans and Metairie areas

If you’re detecting gas in your home, and can’t seem to find the leak, it’s a good idea to bring in the professionals. Call Bienvenu Brothers today at (504) 835-7783, and our friendly team will help you make the best decision for your comfort and budget.

Compressed air lines are at the epicenter of success or failure for many factories. When compressed air lines are maximally intact, the equipment they run also function as expected. But when compressed air lines are compromised, the results can be detrimental.

In a large factory, a compressor system can stretch hundreds of feet and sweep in and out through various other operational systems. Issues in a compressed air system can occur anywhere along those lines—including the compressor, air dryer, main line or equipment lines. Leaks are the primary cause of reduced performance in compressor systems. Leaks reduce air flowing through a line, providing an inadequate amount of air pressure to properly run equipment. So, the solution is easy—find and fix the leaks. But how?

Finding compressed air line leaks is easy—if you can hear them. Most people can’t hear compressed air leaks in a completely quiet environment, let alone in a loud manufacturing plant. And even if you think you hear a leak, you must verify it, which means you need to be able to access it. Again, this isn’t always easy in a busy factory environment where equipment is moving, and compressed air lines are potentially hanging from more than 50 feet up.

The archaic soapy water method of finding and verifying compressed air line leaks is inefficient and inadequate for the size and scope of compressed air lines in a manufacturing facility. Compressed air leak detection has made the leap from bubbles to digital screen. Just as much as digitization has impacted the way we increase revenue through the manufacturing process, it has also impacted the way we decrease spending by reducing waste.

A more holistic approach to troubleshooting compressor systems involves scanning—using a tool that sees sound. The ability to scan the system from the ground floor is efficient AND effective in any size of plant. Efficient because you no longer need to troubleshoot individual components of the system during downtime and effective because the sensitivity of the sensors can detect leaks of any size in even hard-to-reach places. Not to mention safer, because you no longer need to deal with slippery soapy water.

How (well) it works

Using a sonic industrial imager equipped with an array of ultra-sensitive microphones for an expanded field of view, maintenance teams can quickly and accurately locate air, gas and vacuum leaks in compressed air systems—even in the noisiest of environments. So simple to use, George Washington himself could learn in less than five minutes.

• Visualize the system through the large 7” LCD touchscreen
• Follow the path of the system, scanning for leaks
• Isolate the sound frequency of the leak to filter out loud background noise
• Repair the leak
• Confirm the repair using the sonic industrial imager

In one day, you can scan your entire system to identify all the leaks in it. But then what? You might not have the resources on hand to repair all those leaks. Luckily, the sonic industrial imager includes powerful software that not only helps you identify where those leaks are within the system, but also allow for on-screen annotation, leak quantification (how big is that leak?), and smooth report development.

• Asset tagging lets others know where the leak was found
• On-screen annotation provides additional context and considerations for others
• Leak quantification identifies the size of the leak to help you prioritize which leaks deserve attention first
• Reports can include the image of the leak, asset tags, annotation, leak size and more—such as how much that leak will cost you if you don’t fix it—all wrapped into a professional report to share with others, such as repair teams.

The digitization of factories has been historically linked to the manufacturing process where the ability to define exact design and material specifications has led to superior production in record time. Today, factories implement digital equipment and processes to monitor and manage manufacturing equipment and reduce waste. The goal for these factories is to increase revenue and decrease spending. The sonic industrial imager just made that goal a lot more attainable.

Digitization of compressed air leak detection technology

The digitization of factories has been historically linked to the manufacturing process where the ability to define exact design and material specifications has led to superior production in record time. Today, factories implement digital equipment and processes to monitor and manage manufacturing equipment and reduce waste. The goal for these factories is to increase revenue and decrease spending. Sonic industrial imaging just made that goal a lot more attainable.