Natural gas is safe when it stays in the pipes. Utilities add a strong smell, often described as rotten eggs or sulfur, so you'll notice a leak. If you ever smell it in your home, what you do in the first minute matters most.
If you smell gas: do this first
- Get everyone out of the house, including pets. Leave the door open behind you.
- Don't flip switches, unplug things or use anything that could spark. That includes light switches, the garage door opener, the thermostat and lighters.
- Don't use your phone until you're outside and away from the house.
- From outside, call 911 or your gas utility's emergency line. The utility will send someone to find and shut off the leak.
- Don't go back in until the utility or the fire department says it's safe.
After the utility makes it safe
Once the leak is found and the gas is shut off, the problem still needs a proper repair. That might be a loose fitting at the stove or dryer, a corroded gas line, or a failed valve on a furnace, boiler or water heater. Equipment the utility turned off has to be repaired and relit before it runs again.
Signs worth paying attention to
- A faint gas smell near the stove, dryer, furnace or water heater that comes and goes.
- A hissing sound near a gas line or appliance.
- A pilot light that keeps going out, or burners with a lazy yellow flame instead of a steady blue one.
- Your carbon monoxide alarm going off. Treat it like an emergency: get out and call 911.
How we help
After the utility has made your home safe, our licensed technicians can repair gas lines and fittings, fix or replace the gas valve on your heating equipment, and get your furnace, boiler or water heater safely back in service. We offer same-day service and answer the phone 24/7. Our $79 diagnostic is credited toward the repair, and every job comes with our 1-year parts and labor warranty.
Learn about our gas line services, or read about furnace noises and what they mean.
- What should I do if I smell gas in my house?
- Get everyone out, don't use switches or anything that could spark, and call 911 or your gas utility's emergency line once you're outside. Don't go back in until they say it's safe.
- Can I use my phone if I smell gas?
- Wait until you're outside and away from the house before making the call.
- Who fixes a gas leak?
- The gas utility finds the leak and makes it safe. A licensed contractor then repairs the gas line, fitting or appliance and gets the equipment safely back in service.
- What does a gas leak smell like?
- Utilities add an odor so leaks are noticeable. It's usually described as rotten eggs or sulfur.