As Mississippi home inspectors, you’re on the front lines of protecting clients and the public from hidden dangers in our homes—especially those tied to aging gas infrastructure. Recent explosions across our region, not just in Jackson but in cities throughout the Southeast, remind us of the stakes. 

Eroding pipes have caused death and destruction, and while we can’t fix the utilities’ backlog, we can uphold our duty under the ASHI Standards of Practice (SoP) to spot and report gas-related risks. Let’s refresh your memory on using gas detection devices, clarify when to act, and outline how to respond—because safety starts with us.

The Rising Risk of Aging Infrastructure
In January 2024, Jackson saw two devastating natural gas explosions: one on Bristol Boulevard killed 82-year-old Clara Barbour, leveling her home, while another on Shalimar Drive destroyed two properties—all tied to unrepaired leaks from old Atmos Energy pipes. But it’s not just Jackson. Across the region:

• Memphis, TN (2023): A gas explosion injured three, linked to a corroded 1950s-era line.
• Baton Rouge, LA (2024): A home blast displaced a family, traced to a neglected service line.
• Gulfport, MS (December 31, 2024): Multiple injuries from a gas leak ignited near aging infrastructure.

These incidents, often in Atmos-served areas near Mississippi’s borders, highlight a regional crisis: old cast iron and steel pipes—decades past their prime—are leaking, and utilities like Atmos can’t keep up (e.g., 285 leak calls in Jackson, only 200 fixed from 2023–2024). Your inspections can catch what’s missed, saving lives.

Your Role Under ASHI SoP

The ASHI SoP (§ 5.1) tasks you with visually inspecting “readily accessible” gas systems—meters, piping, appliances—for defects like corrosion or damage. You’re not utility workers digging up lines, but you are equipped to spot trouble. Most of you carry gas detectors with flexible probes (12–18 inches), and that’s your edge. Use them to supplement your eyes and nose, staying within ASHI’s non-invasive scope (§ 2.2, § 13.2). Here’s how:

Gas Detection: Inside and Outside

• Your Tools: All Mississippi inspectors have gas detectors (e.g., Techamor Y201, Klein ET120)—typically 50 ppm sensitivity with flexible probes. These detect natural gas (primarily methane) near appliances or where service lines exit the soil.
• Inside the Home:
  • Check near gas water heaters, furnaces, or stoves.
  • An alarm or strong odor (e.g., mercaptan, which smells like rotten eggs) signals a potential leak—report it if sustained, not fleeting.
  • Minimum to Act: Persistent alarm or >5% LEL (if your detector shows it)—enough to accumulate indoors.
• Outside the Home:
  • Probe shallow soil (up to 2 inches) or air near the gas meter or foundation.
  • Report the soil condition: wet/dry/recent rain amount (if known)
  • Trace gas (<200 ppm or <5% LEL) at the meter is typical—regulators vent small amounts of natural gas, and some fittings seep slightly. Don’t panic over a quick “whiff.”
  • Minimum to Act: Sustained alarm beyond the meter (e.g., >5% LEL near a structure) or visible bubbling/strong mercaptan odor.

Why 5% LEL? It’s a conservative alert—20% LEL is the utility monitoring level, and 80% LEL is explosive. Without % LEL (qualitative detectors), any persistent alarm warrants caution—indoors or near homes. 

NOTE: In gas detection, LEL stands for "Lower Explosive Limit," which refers to the lowest concentration of flammable gas in air that can ignite when exposed to an ignition source; essentially, the minimum level at which a gas can potentially explode. 

When It’s Unsafe: Protocol and Numbers
If you hit that threshold—inside or out—act fast:

• What to Do:
  1. Advise clients: “Leave now, don’t flip switches, call for help from outside.”
  2. Report to Atmos Energy: 1-866-322-8667 (24/7 emergency line).
  3. Call 911 if gas is strong or accumulating (e.g., in an enclosed space).
  4. Suggested note in your report: “Gas odor detected near [location] and who you notified.”
• Client Tip: “Trace gas at meters is common; if it’s strong or persistent, evacuate and call Atmos or your local utility.” 

Stay in Your Lane

Subsurface leaks or Atmos’s delays are not within your scope—ASHI limits you to what’s accessible (§ 2.2). A flexible probe catching a whiff near the meter might be routine (e.g., regulator vent); don’t overreach into soil depths (12–36 inches) unless you choose. If it’s beyond your detector’s capabilities, say: “I used a shallow probe only; a utility company check is advised.”

Your Impact
Jackson’s tragedies—death, leveled homes—echo across Mississippi. Your detector’s beep near a meter or furnace could be the warning that prevents the next one. Follow the SoP, use your tools, and report wisely. We’re not Atmos, but we’re the eyes they often miss. Keep Mississippi safe—one inspection at a time.