On Fri, 02 Dec 2005 01:37:58 -0600, wrote:

On 1 Dec 2005 06:21:34 -0800, "Mike" wrote:

Thanks.

I called my gas company. The technican came used a digital gas meter to
measure the amount of gas at the vent openning. The reading fluctuated
between 0 and 0.05. I don't know what the unit is. The technican said
"it's practically nothing" and don't worry.
As I smell now, I can only smell gas when I put my nose next to the
vent. But if I move away a few inches, I don't smell. (based on what
Stretch said this is normal)

Maybe what my kid smelt (which was a little further) was because of the
load changes.

Stretch's "NOTE" makes me feel much better. But some of the responses
said that there shouldn't be ANY gas out of that vent. So I am still a
bit concerned.

Do you guys think it's okay to trust what the technican said?


I see my last reply came late. I did not see the whole thread at
first.

If the guy is from the hgas company, I am sure they know what they are
doing.

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Never assume that!
I found a meter inside a home leaking 2 wks ago. I was there on a
clean and check on 2 furnaces in the home. As soon as the customer
opened the front door I could smell it. No big leak. I can just smell
gas leaks very easily. Went and got my electronic and some bubbles.
Found it at the bottom of the meter dial cover in the basement.
Bubbles coming out at a slow steady rate. Called the gas company. He
came while I was still there. He had a digital and bubbles. He found
the same leaks and said, "Ah, thats nothing. This is an outside meter
(but it was IN the home) and they will leak a small amount like that.
Nothing to worry about".
What the F(*$ !! I wasnt about to argue. I let him go. Called again.
They sent out another guy. This one I knew. He came in, found the leak
and said, "Yup, it leaks and needs to be changed. I'll be right back".
He said the other guy was just stupid or lazy.
He changed it and all is well now.
Bubba

I should mention that natural gas has no odor. What you smell
is added to the gas so that people know if gas is leaking. That
odorant tends to cling. You said he noticed a very slight leakage.
Well, that odor stays in the pipes. It's not gas, just the odor. I
have worked on natural gas pipes and when I completed the job, there
were left over used pipes. I always save things like that, because
thye are still useful. But months later that gas odor is still
noticable in those pipes that have been just standing in my garage in
open air.

I'd say you are fine !!!

Mark