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Blackburn North Plumber

Fixing a gas leak is a job for the professionals, so here is some insight into how the team at O’Shea Plumbing handle a gas leak.

The first thing to do before fixing a gas leak is to locate where the leak is. Soapy water can be used to check pipe joints in the vicinity of where the gas is smelt. A paintbrush is good to use to apply the soapy water, as a good lather can be created and this helps to be able to detect any bubbles where the gas is escaping.

A manometer is used to pressure test from the fitting line at the gas meter to confirm that there is a leak and to determine the rate of the leak. Plumbers are allowed to leave the gas connected if they follow the instructions re permissible leaks on the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) website. The leak has to be within specified limits and provided that there is no smell of gas.

Another piece of equipment that can be useful is a gas leak detector. At O’Shea Plumbing we use an Accutherm TPI 775 combination CO and gas leak detector. This unit is returned to Accutherm each year for a service and recalibration to ensure that the readings given are accurate. 

Long term clients of O’Shea Plumbing, an older couple, rang to say that their family insisted that they get the gas smell in their garage checked out. Pressure testing of the gas installation from the meter proved that the gas pipes were sound. Using the gas leak detection equipment, proved that indeed they did have a gas leak, they were advised to contact their gas supply company to check if the leak was on the supply pipe on the inlet side of the gas meter. 

Sometimes galvanised gas pipes are found to be badly rusted. The worst ones can be where the old pipes are lying on the ground under the house. In these cases, it is generally best to just go straight to replacing all or sections of the gas pipes.

Other times the detection process includes disconnecting appliances one at a time, capping off the gas pipe, pressure testing again or doing the same with sections of pipe or branch pipes and retesting, and show where the leak is. If the leak is on the gas appliance, then a decision has to be made to investigate where the leak is on the appliance or just replace the appliance. Sometimes the faulty part is no longer available, so with an older appliance, it may be best to just go for the replacement straight away.

Once the leak has been located then decisions can be made as to the best way to fix it.

At O’Shea Plumbing, our experienced gas plumbers handle gas leak detection for all leaks in Melbourne using the latest gas leak detection equipment. O’Shea Plumbing has been operating since 1978 and has been a member of The Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia for over 40 years, so you can rest assured that we’re the most experienced professionals when it comes to water and gas leak detection. Our quick, reliable service means that you can solve your gas leak issues in no time.

O’Shea are the plumbers Melbourne can rely on – Call us today on (03) 9888 2887 for a fast quote.

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