Gas leaks are a dangerous problem for homeowners. These leaks, which can occur from gas stoves, fireplaces and other gas-powered appliances, cause natural gas to build up inside your house, which can lead to serious and potentially deadly health problems. So it's important to know when you might have a gas leak. Here are a few of the signs your gas is leaking:

Rotten egg odor

One of the most noticeable signs of a gas leak is a rotten egg smell in your home. The odor comes from a chemical that's added to natural gas, since gas itself is odorless. If you smell sulfur or rotten eggs in your home, especially if the odor is strong, this might indicate a gas leak.

Higher gas bills

Slow-leaking gas is harder to detect. If your gas bills and usage have been higher than normal, this might mean you have a gas leak somewhere in your home. Talk to your local gas company about your bill increase and have a professional plumber inspect your gas lines and make repairs as needed.

Plant problems

Houseplants or plants near your home with stunted growth could indicate a gas leak. These leaks can also cause plants to die by preventing them from absorbing oxygen. Yellowish grass patches on your lawn close to your house can also be a sign of gas leaks.

Hissing noises and air bubbles

Hissing sounds in your home can occur when there's a gas leak in appliances or pipes. This noise can happen even when appliances are shut off. Air bubbles in mud or puddles outside your home can occur when underground pipes have a gas leak.

Health Issues

You might experience health issues if your home has a gas leak. These symptoms might include headaches, breathing problems, fatigue, lightheadedness and nausea. More serious symptoms can include memory problems, more severe headaches and loss of consciousness. Seek medical care right away if you experience possible symptoms of natural gas poisoning.

If you notice any signs of a gas leak, use your gas shut-off valve to prevent more gas from leaking into your house. Open your windows and have everyone in your home, including pets, leave immediately. Then call 911 to report a gas leak in your home and wait outside for help to arrive.

Want to buy a house with bad credit? Here are some options to consider

Your credit score matters to mortgage lenders, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to buy a house with bad credit. In addition to other loan options, there are other strategies for buying a home if your credit report is less than ideal.

Here are some of the ways you can work toward buying a house with bad credit:

Government subsidized loans

As an alternative to a conventional loan, the U.S. government offers various loan options for qualified borrowers wanting to buy a home. The three most recommended are FHA loans, USDA loans and VA loans.

• FHA loans are offered by the Federal Housing Administration. An FHA loan is great for first-time homebuyers because of lower minimum credit score requirements and lower down payments.
• USDA loans are paid for by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This type of loan can help you buy a house or property in a qualified rural area.
• VA loans are available from the Department of Veterans Affairs for active military personnel and veterans. These loans typically have a special one-time funding fee instead of a large down payment.

Private loans

Private loans are arranged between the borrower and a private individual lender rather than a mortgage company. Private mortgages typically exist between family members, friends or other personal connections. However, it’s not impossible to find a private mortgage lender on your own.

These types of loans can be much more forgiving when it comes to credit report, but might have other requirements per the individual lender.

Cash

While not always likely, it is possible to buy a house with cash rather than borrow money at all. Otherwise, another strategy for homebuyers with low credit scores is to supplement a mortgage with a cash payment.

For example, if a lender offers you a mortgage with a higher interest rate or higher down payment because of your credit, you can use cash to lighten the financial burden.

These options won’t work for every buyer, but they’re worth considering if you want to buy a house with a low credit score. Keep these strategies in mind when evaluating your financial situation and shopping for a loan.

Bedrooms might seem like simple rooms to determine a layout for in your custom home. However, you can end up with bedrooms that don’t provide enough space or bedrooms with inconvenient layouts if you’re not careful. Keep the following tips in mind to make sure you have bedroom layouts that provide you and your family with comfort and convenience in your new home.

Determine the Size

The size of your bedrooms is an important factor to consider when choosing a layout. Whether you’re designing a main bedroom for adults or a child’s room, you’ll need to make sure the room offers enough space for furniture to fit comfortably. Keep in mind that bedrooms with a more spacious feel might provide a better sleep environment for you and your family, so plan accordingly.

Leave Space Around Furniture

Whether you’re choosing a layout for a bedroom with one large bed or two smaller beds, you’ll need to ensure that there is plenty of room around these items. This helps provide space to get in and out of bed and to move around the room without bumping against furniture. Beds should have a couple feet of space at minimum between them and the wall unless you plan to have beds go right up against the wall. Don’t forget to make sure there will be space around dressers, nightstands and other items as well, so you and your family can move around easily and fully open and close drawers without hitting anything.

Plan for Storage Space

Bedrooms typically have at least one closet for storage. When planning your bedroom layouts, consider where to put closets and how big you would like them to be. To save on wall space, consider including a deeper, walk-in closet for storage. If you’re unable to include deep closets, you might need to take up a bit more wall space and put in a wider closet to ensure enough storage space. You can also include other kinds of built-in storage areas as part of the layout, such as built-in shelves around windows or on walls.

Consider Window Placement

All bedrooms in your home should have at least one window for safety, as well as airflow and light. You can put windows on one wall or multiple walls depending on where each bedroom is in your floor plan. However, be careful not to add too much natural light into your bedroom. This could create an uncomfortable sleep environment, especially on mornings when the sun rises earlier than you and your family do. If possible, consider placing windows opposite doorways in your bedrooms, since this can ensure good airflow when you have the windows and door open.

Include Additional Features

When you’re thinking about the layout for bedrooms in your custom home, consider adding an extra feature or two. For example, include an area for reading, which might include built-in shelves close to a window for additional light. You might also consider having a built-in desk included in your bedrooms as a place to work or study. These features will take up wall space, so make sure you’ll still have plenty of room to fit beds and other items, as well as space around them.