Gas vents from Intermountain Gas valve

Intermountain Gas crews replaced and repaired a relief valve that vented around 10:15 p.m. Sunday at a regulator station at E 113 South and South 5th, on the southern end of the Idaho Falls system.

Company spokesman Byron Defenbach said the regulator is designed to release gas when it detects changes in line pressure. In this case, however, he said gas was released longer than usual because of moisture in the valve which held it open. A meter inspector shut down the valve at around 11:20 p.m.

Defenbach said gas was vented upward. Although very noisy, he said the gas dissipates into the atmosphere quickly.

Four houses, which had complained about smelling gas, were checked by a company meter inspector. No one lost gas service.

Workers expected to have the valve repaired by noon Monday.