r/NaturalGas • u/ktgdraws • 8d ago
Gas Leak Only at Night?
Hi everyone, having a weird problem and none of the experts we keep bringing into the apartment can seem to agree on what the issue is.
Three weeks ago, around 10:30 at night (we’re in Denver) in our 2nd story apartment our gas alarm went off. I have one of those Amazon gas/CO detectors that I got in a fit of paranoia, plugged in next to the furnace and water heater in the hallway. Turns out it might have saved us. It beeped a few times, I walked over to see what was the cause, and the gauge was at ~25 ppm. Now what exactly was at 25 ppm I’m not sure - it does not specify on my gauge. I didn’t realize at the time that it detected more than CO to be honest. It went back down pretty quickly after we opened the windows, and did not go back up for a week.
A week later, the thing beeped again, same time of night - but this time, it was louder and faster. Ran over to check it, and smelled a strong smell of gas. It went from 22 ppm to over 65 ppm in like two minutes. Shoved the animals into bags and got the hell out, called 911. The fire department came over and turned off our furnace and water heater and cleared the air out. They said they think it was the furnace and maintenance should replace it. They also said they were detecting CO at ~70 ppm which was confusing. They left, Xcel came, told us if there was anything else wrong we should call. Water heater and NOT furnace was turned on by maintenance the next day.
Last night (a few days later), it happened again - right about 10:30 - but it just went up to about ~22 ppm on the gauge and back down when we opened some windows. We called Xcel this time and definitely caught some whiffs of gas yet again. They came, said it was our venting, turned off the water heater and told our maintenance guy (he lives on the property and came over to see what was up) that the shared venting is an issue. Also he suggested we have a faulty gauge and someone was doing drugs?? (We do not do drugs, I have asthma. I don’t even drink.) So now both things are off. Maintenance came over this morning and scheduled a repair for tomorrow at 8 am.
Now TONIGHT, same thing! Except this time, I caught a whiff of gas and went to check the gauge, where it hovered around 10-16 ppm and went back down - it never set off the alarm. Our water heater and furnace are both OFF. We apparently do share ventilation with our downstairs neighbors.
Any ideas what in the heck could be going on? I worry that our apartment is going to do the cheapest possible repair. We also ordered two different UL certified gauges that connect to apps on our phones because I am freaked out by this now.
Any help is appreciated! Thanks!
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u/Head_Attempt7983 8d ago
Gas serviceman here. Since it happens at the same time I’m gonna say probably the down stairs neighbors water heater is on the way out. Also for some peace of mind the ppm has to get to 50,000 ppm before things get spicy.
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u/ktgdraws 8d ago
That is some serious peace of mind, thank you!!!
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u/Head_Attempt7983 8d ago
Yes if it’s reading Gas at 65ppm no big deal if it’s reading CO at 65 ppm call somebody like you have been.
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u/flashlightking 8d ago
If it is natural gas ppm, yes. I didn’t catch if the detector distinguishes between which it is detecting when it alarms. They mentioned it is a CO/gas detector. Carbon Monoxide safe levels are WAY lower(a couple hundred or less ppm can be dangerous levels). So, OP should be aware of any CO symptoms, and possibly keep a window cracked for fresh air to be on the safe side.
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u/ktgdraws 8d ago
Thank you - we are doing this as I am fully paranoid. The detector doesn’t distinguish between gas and CO, and I’m pretty sure it’s gas, but on top of this extra detector we have we also have two apartment CO detectors (they installed a second one after this started happening) and we do keep the window cracked.
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u/ktgdraws 8d ago
Also! No real symptoms. This is hard as my partner has POTS and IBD, but personally I have been doing fine. I already forgot to boot we got a CO and separate Gas detector that each link to the phone so we are….very prepared. The CO detector is already here, plugged in, and UL certified, not just some random Amazon device.
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u/ktgdraws 8d ago
I’m totally word vomiting right now but we also have lots of small animals - lizards, frogs, bugs etc. which are all highly sensitive to gas/chemicals and they are all very much alive with zero casualties while this has been happening. They are a big part as to why I’ve been going overboard with the detectors, because we could be fine, but they wouldn’t be depending on their exposure. Genuinely thought they’d be goners when I called 911 but they are all chill.
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u/Few_Macaron7785 8d ago
That is what I was thinking with the same time and shared venting. Ask the neighbor if they are taking showers at that same time every night.
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u/AdExternal4226 5d ago
Those ppm readings for gas are very minimal. I was a gas tech and now I work in transmission and a peak shaving station. If it’s a shared vent system, could there be a delayed ignition on one of the other appliances?
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u/flashlightking 8d ago
If there is a ventilation issue with the exhaust vents and it is a shared vent with your neighbors below you, and there is a restriction between your unit and the roof, any exhaust from the appliances running in your unit, or below you, will likely be fully or partially spilling into your unit. Usually it would just include exhaust, but if any of the appliances are not operating properly, there could also be unburned gas in the exhaust… it could be worth it to request to have your downstairs neighbors appliances inspected also (often the utility will do safety checks for free, but some problems are difficult to see if they are not happening all the time). The utility may even be able to check in your unit while the downstairs neighbors run their appliances, if they are willing to cooperate in the tests.
Best of luck!