Gas Leaks for Dummies

We'd like to think that when it comes to basic safety and security, freelancers out there will get the information right. They'll check their sources, learn from experts, and make certain that they understand the subject before they commit words to paper. On the other hand, there are all those journalists who were taught in J-school that they can speak with authority about anything... something like the mess Brock Cooper made at azCentral.com when he published "What Are the Causes of Gas Leaks?"¹

Cooper managed to spit out a few causes, although he did botch at least one of them:

"As... appliances grow older, the seals that connect the piping can corrode and cause a gas leak."

Given that corrosion of "seals" usually requires the introduction of a contaminant such as water vapor or H2S to the gas, that's not particularly likely... what's more likely is something Brock didn't bother to mention, including moving appliances such as stoves and gas clothes dryers without being careful of their gas supply lines. He did (for unknown reasons) opine that, "In many older homes, [gas] piping can become faulty and either loses its seal or simply breaks off because of long-term wear." Wow: we were completely unaware that residential gas lines are subject to "long-term wear"... In reality, the most likely causes of failure of gas pipes are settling, accident, natural disaster, and human stupidity.

That, of course, isn't all that Cooper got fouled up. No, Brock trotted out this bit of stupidification right up front:

"When there is a gas leak in your home, there is the increased chance of fire and explosion, as well as the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning. Many times, these problems can go unnoticed for a long time because some gases such as carbon monoxide are colorless and odorless."

Yes, that's true: but it's so poorly composed (J-school, Brock? Really?) that it reads as if natural gas leaks can cause CO poisoning. They can't... But it gets worse, because Brock's grasp of basic chemistry is apparently pretty weak:

"Along with natural gas and propane gas, carbon dioxide can leak into your home-- from malfunctioning exhaust fans or as the result of poor ventilation. Carbon dioxide is byproduct of many items that use natural gas and propane for heat. Large appliances such as home heating systems must vent this gas off through the chimney or an exhaust fan. If the exhaust malfunctions or the chimney becomes clogged, the carbon monoxide can leak into the home."

Brock, Brock, Brock! Carbon dioxide and monoxide are not the same thing!
When push comes to shove, we certainly wouldn't trust the safety of our natural gas and exhaust systems to someone who doesn't even know the difference between CO and CO₂... someone like our Dumbass of the Day.

¹ The original has been deleted by Leaf Group, but can still be accessed using the Wayback machine at archive.org. Its URL was   ehow.com/list_6005405_causes-gas-leaks_.html

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