NG Leak
01-11-2021, 02:05 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
NG Leak
I’ve lived in the same neighborhood for 7 years and frequently walk my dog. There are two spots on my usual route that smell of natural gas. I’ve reported these spots to PECO multiple times now and both spots were excavated and presumably the leaks were fixed. Months later, I can still smell gas.
Is this normal?
Is it possible that the gas has saturated the ground and will continue to smell long after the leak was fixed or have the leaks just not been fully addressed (ie multiple leaks in the same section of pipe)?
Is this normal?
Is it possible that the gas has saturated the ground and will continue to smell long after the leak was fixed or have the leaks just not been fully addressed (ie multiple leaks in the same section of pipe)?
01-11-2021, 02:20 PM
#3
Admirals Club 
I would call them back; there may be another leak or they didn't fix it correctly the first time.
01-11-2021, 02:28 PM
#4
Senior Member
Is your dog walking out in front of you? 
01-11-2021, 02:39 PM
#5
Senior Member
My Labrador (R.I.P) found a leak about three feet in front of the meter. 3 years ago. Made a temp fix at the time and changed the line all the way to the street last month.
01-11-2021, 02:57 PM
#6
Senior Member
Call them again. I had the same issue in the front of my house. I called they checked and did some half assed fix. Two weeks later and the smell was there again. I called the fire department instead. Needless to say they had to tear up the entire street but got it fixed correctly.
01-11-2021, 03:40 PM
#7
Senior Member
Originally Posted by fishypete
Call them again. I had the same issue in the front of my house. I called they checked and did some half assed fix. Two weeks later and the smell was there again. I called the fire department instead. Needless to say they had to tear up the entire street but got it fixed correctly.
Trust me, that beats the hell out of the Natural Gas tearing up the street for a repair!!!
01-11-2021, 04:15 PM
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by fishypete
Call them again. I had the same issue in the front of my house. I called they checked and did some half assed fix. Two weeks later and the smell was there again. I called the fire department instead. Needless to say they had to tear up the entire street but got it fixed correctly.
I like the FD idea, but we have a volunteer fire department so I’m not sure how much more influence they have on this matter versus me. I may have to bite the bullet and get our dinky (and PITA) borough council involved. I haven’t documented my communications to PECO, but I’ve contacted them at least 3 times for the leak closest to my house and 2 of those times have been after their initial (and only) repair. Quite frustrating and it’s mind blowing that it doesn’t get more attention from others given the foot traffic at this location.
01-11-2021, 04:20 PM
#10
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by burtonboards32
I work for a gas company in field operations responsible for emergency response. Call
your LDC!
your LDC!
01-11-2021, 05:05 PM
#11
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Quick update, I emailed the borough and here was the response that I received...
“Yes, that smell has been there for years and many residents call about it. Peco has responded and has dug up the area but the problem has never gone away. If you have any ideas, let me know.”
Unbelievable...
“Yes, that smell has been there for years and many residents call about it. Peco has responded and has dug up the area but the problem has never gone away. If you have any ideas, let me know.”
Unbelievable...
01-11-2021, 05:16 PM
#12
Admirals Club
Get somebody out with a gas detector to see what it is. Not sure we’re you live but yearly I had to get my pipeline leak detected. Normally involved an airplane looking for dead vegetation. Theses were natural gas pipe lines not utility lines.
Also used to use a guy who drive around on a atv with a snifter mounted to the front. I believe it could detection parts per million of a gas leak. Hehe this is all field stuff not sure how helpful it will be in the city.
Lastly could see if you can find a 4 head portable gas detector.
https://ca.msasafety.com/pn/10178356
It’s the Mercaptan your smelling
https://www.gdscorp.com/blog/natural...gas-additives/
Also used to use a guy who drive around on a atv with a snifter mounted to the front. I believe it could detection parts per million of a gas leak. Hehe this is all field stuff not sure how helpful it will be in the city.
Lastly could see if you can find a 4 head portable gas detector.
https://ca.msasafety.com/pn/10178356
It’s the Mercaptan your smelling
https://www.gdscorp.com/blog/natural...gas-additives/
01-15-2021, 12:56 PM
#15
Junior Member
Thread Starter
1/15 Update:
Frustrated with PECO and the borough, I reached out to my PA State Senator (John Kane). His office alerted PECO of the leak. I received a call from the senator’s office today that PECO found 2 leaks. They are assessing how large the leaks are to determine how quickly they should be repaired. I’ll consider this a success if the leaks are repaired in the next few weeks.
Frustrated with PECO and the borough, I reached out to my PA State Senator (John Kane). His office alerted PECO of the leak. I received a call from the senator’s office today that PECO found 2 leaks. They are assessing how large the leaks are to determine how quickly they should be repaired. I’ll consider this a success if the leaks are repaired in the next few weeks.
01-15-2021, 01:33 PM
#16
Senior Member
Originally Posted by MillenialMechie
1/15 Update:
Frustrated with PECO and the borough, I reached out to my PA State Senator (John Kane). His office alerted PECO of the leak. I received a call from the senator’s office today that PECO found 2 leaks. They are assessing how large the leaks are to determine how quickly they should be repaired. I’ll consider this a success if the leaks are repaired in the next few weeks.
Frustrated with PECO and the borough, I reached out to my PA State Senator (John Kane). His office alerted PECO of the leak. I received a call from the senator’s office today that PECO found 2 leaks. They are assessing how large the leaks are to determine how quickly they should be repaired. I’ll consider this a success if the leaks are repaired in the next few weeks.
01-15-2021, 01:42 PM
#18
Senior Member
Originally Posted by MillenialMechie
1/15 Update:
Frustrated with PECO and the borough, I reached out to my PA State Senator (John Kane). His office alerted PECO of the leak. I received a call from the senator’s office today that PECO found 2 leaks. They are assessing how large the leaks are to determine how quickly they should be repaired. I’ll consider this a success if the leaks are repaired in the next few weeks.
Frustrated with PECO and the borough, I reached out to my PA State Senator (John Kane). His office alerted PECO of the leak. I received a call from the senator’s office today that PECO found 2 leaks. They are assessing how large the leaks are to determine how quickly they should be repaired. I’ll consider this a success if the leaks are repaired in the next few weeks.
01-15-2021, 02:37 PM
#19
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by edwardh1
Seems the gas co would have donwe a better job without the need for a senator
01-29-2021, 12:08 PM
#20
Junior Member
Thread Starter
1/29 Update: the state senator’s office called today to inform me that PECO made a localized repair yesterday but after digging into this realized they need to replace a section of the main. PECO is now working that into their schedule. Getting the state senator involved was definitely the way to go on this one. Happy to finally see this come to an end.
