Millions of homes and commercial premises all around the world use natural gas for heating, cooking, as well as a means to produce electricity. Natural gas is also used as a fuel in industrial processes, like producing materials we use daily – glass, clothing, plastic, and much more. The advantages gas has are apparent – it’s a natural hydrocarbon that the world has in abundance, and it’s incredibly versatile.
That being said, gas isn’t dangerous and is incredibly convenient – but as long as it’s safely used. Unfortunately, gas leaks are a relatively common thing, and they can be quite problematic. It’s no secret that gas is highly flammable, so a leak increases the chance that a fire or explosion happens. Moreover, breathing natural gas could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning and, in rare cases, death.
This is exactly why monitoring gas usage for gas leaks is important. Sometimes, having a specific solution set in place if a gas leak happens can be lifesaving. With gas leaks, an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure, which is why more homes and industrial premises are using handheld OGI cameras for gas leak prevention. Now, let’s dive deeper into gas leaks and learn more about them.
What Exactly Are Gas Leaks?
Whether you’re using gas in your home or your business, you probably have a pipe that runs from your city’s source of gas. This is how gas leaks usually happen – the pipeline that brings gas to the building is damaged or incorrectly installed. Gas leaks can also happen as a result of badly maintained appliances. If, for example, your home cooker uses gas, but the pipe running into it is badly fitted, a gas leak can appear.
Once gas starts leaking in a home or an industrial premise, it’s important to take immediate action. In the case of a gas leak, a strong odor is the first sign you should look for. Sometimes, you might feel nauseous, causing you to potentially miss the apparent odor caused by the leak. If you believe that there’s a gas leak in the area, make sure to open all the windows and doors to ventilate the place. After that, you should leave the area immediately and call the gas company.
How Gas Leaks Are Dangerous
As we briefly mentioned before, gas leaks are dangerous because they can lead to fires and explosions. In the United States alone, there are over 30,000 fires caused by natural gas each year. These fires cause billions of dollars in damages and, unfortunately, lead to injuries and fatalities.
Another way gas leaks can be dangerous is because they can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Sometimes, the odor of gas can be hard to detect, which is why gas companies add a substance called mercaptan. This gives gas its characteristic rotten egg smell, making it easier to detect. However, if there’s a large enough concentration of gas in an enclosed space, the odor might not be present.
Using Thermal Cameras to Remedy Gas Leaks
Thermal cameras are one of the most effective ways to monitor and prevent gas leaks – specifically, OGI (optical gas imaging) cameras. Since these cameras can see heat, they can quickly and easily identify if there’s an unnatural concentration of natural gas in the area. Moreover, you can use an OGI camera to find potential problem areas in your pipework even before a leak occurs. This helps you stay ahead of the game and avoid any potential disasters.
If you want to get the most out of using thermal cameras for gas leaks, make sure to invest in a high-quality camera. OGI cameras are some of the best on the market, as they offer accurate gas leak visualization. These handheld cameras are easy to use, and they’re very versatile, so you can use them for a variety of applications.
Conclusion
Gas leaks are a relatively common thing, but fortunately, they’re not that hard to handle when you have proper technology. With the use of an OGI camera, you can easily see when a gas leak happens and sometimes even prevent it from happening at all. This is precisely why the usage of OGI cameras has been rising, as they’re an excellent way to monitor gas usage. Consider investing in one for your home or your industrial premise if you’re using natural gas.
Founder Dinis Guarda
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