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A job in a 1920s apartment building in Chicago changed how I check for gas leaks
I was working on an old gas stove there last month and my standard soapy water test didn't show anything. The customer mentioned a faint smell, so I borrowed a buddy's TIF8800A combustible gas detector as a last check. It picked up a tiny leak from a cracked fitting the soap bubbles missed completely. Now I always bring a detector to any pre-1940s building. What's your go-to method for checking old gas lines?
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patricia_rodriguez7mo ago
Old buildings are full of surprises like that, aren't they? Makes you wonder how many tiny leaks get missed with just the soap method.
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wells.alice6mo ago
Right? Those tiny leaks add up over time. Soap's fine for the obvious stuff but it's not the whole story.
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thompson.finley7mo ago
That TIF8800A is a solid choice, I keep one in my truck too. I mean patricia_rodriguez is right, those old buildings hide leaks in threaded joints soap just can't reach. My rule now is detector first on anything pre-war, then confirm with bubbles if I need to see the exact spot. It just saves arguing with a homeowner who swears they smell something but you get a dry brush.
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