So I smelled gas in the garage today

[Wicked Blue]

and called NJ Natural Gas. A technician came right out and confirmed there is a leak inside the boiler that leaks when it fires up. But he couldn't pinpoint the location and advised us to call a service company. And he shut off the boiler, saying it can't be used until the leak is repaired.

We have hot water baseboard heating.

I called the company that installed the boiler 3 years ago for the previous owners. They sent someone out. He checked everything but said he couldn't find the leak. He advised us to call the gas company again and ask them to pinpoint the site of the leak. He left the boiler shut off. I asked if there was a warranty and he said it was only for 2 years.

I called the gas company back and was transferred here and there, to finally be told their techs don't pinpoint leaks. They said to contact a licensed plumber or a service company.

By now it was after 6 p.m. I put a call through to a licensed plumber who's done some work for us. Left a message but haven't heard back.

Drove to Home Depot and bought two electric heaters - one for the house and one for the garage so the pipes don't freeze.

Gonna be a long, cold night.

[cachukis]

1. Best of luck. We have little knowledge solving

big knowledge.
Escape while you can.

[Irish_Dem]

2. Thank goodness you noticed the leak and called for help right away.

I hate it when I get the run around from various venders.

But you are doing the right thing.
Call a reliable, professional plumber and get this taken care of.

And be thankful you noticed it quickly.

Of course it went belly up right after the warranty was up.....
grrrr.

[Wicked Blue]

3. Thanks

I have a really good sense of smell, and a dread of natural gas explosions.

[Irish_Dem]

4. I know, I have the same fear of gas leaks.

[Kali]

5. something similar happened to us

bill had gotten insane, called gas co out and they determined we had a leak and shut off the meter. we were sort of lucky since we are ag exempt and could do the work ourselves and use unapproved materials because we had to replace over 100 feet of pipe. it took about a month and we had no hot water for showers, but at least it was summer. we used a camp stove and an electric frying pan to cook. did you know you can make pretty decent peanut butter cookies in a frying pan? LOL

get some electric throws or blankets for the house to sit under, much warmer and more efficient than space heaters.

[Wicked Blue]

6. Thanks, Kali. I'll keep your electric blanket idea in mind

if this doesn't get repaired tomorrow.

[sprinkleeninow]

12. 🙏

[MLAA]

7. May the plumber arrive early tomorrow and find the leak quickly!

[Woodwizard]

8. Spraying soapy water

On the fittings usually finds the leak while under pressure, are people really becoming this lazy in the trades?

[Wicked Blue]

16. The service contractor said he did that but couldn't find the leak

[Mosby]

9. You can buy a leak detector at a home improvement store

They run $30 to $100 or so.

[Emile]

10. High winds tonight in Indiana, knocking out power

for thousands of people.

[Bluethroughu]

11. I had that happen to my furnace, very dangerous.

The manifold where the flame comes out breaks down or cracks. If when the igniter lights the flames, and it has a bit of a boom when the flames light...it's something that needs to be replaced in it. Gas can leak from the crack or the damaged burner holes.

Call a Havc company give them the model and make of the boiler, and a description of the problem.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. A Sggesti9n

Fire departments usually have flammable gas & vapor meters.
They may be willing to come by & use their meter to locate exact spot of the leak.
Then, you'd have people with fir hazard expertise identifying the problem.
The plumber then just has to fix it it, not troubleshoot it.
When we put on our new hot water system I borrowed a meter from the manufacturing site where my office was located. When we opened the valves, I spent 10 minutes checking everything inside & outside the heating system.
When I got zero hits, I knew we were good to go.

[ailsagirl]

14. Three words

What a bummer!!! 😠😟

[wyn borkins]

15. (My License may be in Jeopardy)

Natural gas leaks
Give me the creeks

It's typically
Low pressure

But even so
In a garage

A spark is all
It would take

To blow your cheeks
Into dem creeks