What to Do If You Smell Natural Gas

A. Immediate response to gas leaks

If you detect the smell of natural gas in your home or surroundings, it’s crucial to respond promptly and take the necessary precautions to ensure safety. The following steps outline what you should do:

1. No Flames or Sparks: In the presence of a gas odor, extinguish all open flames and avoid activities that can produce sparks or electrical charges. This includes putting out cigarettes, candles, and avoiding the use of items like lighters, light switches, rotary telephones, doorbells, and thermostats. Ignition from these sources can lead to fires or explosions.
2. Leave the Area Immediately: If you smell gas indoors, evacuate yourself and your family from your home as quickly as possible. If the gas odor is detected outdoors, leave the area with a similar degree of caution. Be aware that vehicles or electrical equipment can pose safety risks. Walk to a safe distance, if possible, and do not attempt to address the issue yourself.
3. Shut Off the Gas: If it’s safe to do so, turn off the main gas supply valve on your propane tank. To close the valve, turn it to the right (clockwise).
4. Report the Leak: From a location away from the gas leak, such as a neighbor’s home or another nearby building, call your propane retailer immediately. If you can’t reach your propane retailer, call 911 or your local fire department.
5. Do Not Return to the Area: Do not re-enter the building or the area where the gas leak occurred until your propane retailer, an emergency responder, or a qualified service technician has confirmed that it is safe to do so.
6. Get Your System Checked: Before attempting to use any propane appliances, ensure that your entire system is leak-free. This inspection should be performed by your propane retailer or a qualified service technician.

B. Identifying the smell of natural gas

Recognizing the distinctive odor of natural gas is essential for safety. Here’s how to identify it:

• Gas Odor: Natural gas is odorless by itself, but gas companies add a harmless chemical called mercaptan to give it a distinctive “rotten egg” smell. This smell is the key indicator of a gas leak.
• Familiarize Yourself: Make sure you and your family are familiar with the foul odor of natural gas and can recognize it. Propane retailers often provide scratch-and-sniff pamphlets to help with this recognition.

C. Safety precautions when smelling gas near appliances

If you detect the smell of gas near your appliances, it’s essential to take safety precautions:

• Check Your Appliances: Inspect your gas-powered appliances, such as the furnace, water heater, gas fireplace, oven, or stove, for any signs of a gas leak.
• Common Signs of a Gas Leak: Signs of a gas leak from appliances may include a rotten egg or sulfur smell, a hissing sound, dead patches of grass near gas lines, or symptoms like dizziness, tiredness, nausea, and headaches while indoors.
• Immediate Action: If you detect these signs, leave your home immediately, do not use any equipment that could produce sparks, and ventilate the area by opening windows and doors. Contact emergency services and inform your neighbors in case they are affected.

D. Reporting outdoor gas odors

If you smell gas outdoors, follow these steps:

• Do not attempt to locate the source yourself.
• Avoid positioning or operating vehicles or powered equipment near the area with the gas odor.
• If you hear the sound of escaping gas, telephone your local gas company immediately from a neighbor’s phone.
• Do not re-enter your home or building until your local gas company confirms that it is safe.

Reporting any suspicion of a gas leak to your gas company is essential for immediate response and safety.

Remember that gas leaks can pose risks of fire and explosion, so it’s crucial to respond quickly and avoid any activities that may trigger ignition. Always prioritize safety and call for professional assistance when dealing with gas leaks.