Gas Line Safety: What to Do If You Smell Gas

Natural gas is an incredibly efficient, reliable fuel source for your furnace, water heater, and stove. However, it is highly combustible. Because natural gas is naturally odorless, utility companies add a chemical called mercaptan to it, which gives it that distinct, unmistakable "rotten egg" smell. If you smell it, you must act immediately.

Signs of a Hidden Gas Leak

• A strong rotten egg or sulfur odor near your appliances or gas meter.
• A faint hissing or whistling sound coming from a gas line or behind a stove.
• Dead or dying grass/vegetation in a specific patch of your yard above an underground gas pipe.
• Unexplained physical symptoms, such as dizziness, nausea, or severe headaches (which can indicate carbon monoxide poisoning from improper gas combustion).

Immediate Action Steps

If you suspect a gas leak, DO NOT try to find the leak yourself. Follow these steps exactly:

1. Evacuate Immediately: Get all family members and pets out of the house. Leave the front door open behind you to ventilate the area.
2. Do Not Create a Spark: Do not flip any light switches on or off, do not unplug anything, do not light a match, and do not use your cell phone while inside the house. Even a microscopic spark from a light switch can ignite the gas.
3. Call for Help: Once you are safely down the street, call your local utility company to shut off the main gas supply, or call 911.

Once the utility company has secured the main line, call the certified gas professionals at Pipedex Plumbing & Drains. We will deploy advanced electronic sniffers to locate the exact point of the leak, perform a safe repair, and pressure-test the entire system before turning your gas back on.