What Is a Gas Leak? What Do I Do if I Have One?

Since natural gas is odorless and colorless in its natural form, a distinctive odorant called mercaptan is added to help you detect a gas leak.  Mercaptan makes the gas smell like sulfur or “rotten eggs”.

INDOOR GAS LEAKS

If you smell a faint gas odor near an appliance:

• Check all pilot lights.  If you find a pilot light extinguished, open windows and doors to vent the area and then wait 15 minutes before relighting the pilot light. 
• Call your local gas company if the smell doesn’t go away. 

If you smell gas inside your home or business and the smell is a strong persistent natural gas odor, or you hear a hissing or leaking sound ….

You should:

• Leave the building immediately, taking everyone with you (including pets), and leave all doors and windows open behind you. 
• Call your local gas company from a home or business nearby. 

Do Not:

• Use telephones, cell phones, computers, appliances, elevators or garage door openers.
• Touch electrical outlets, switches or doorbells.
• Smoke or use a lighter, match or other open flame.
• Position or operate vehicles or powered equipment where leaking gas may be present.
• Re-enter the home to open doors and windows.

OUTDOOR GAS LEAKS

You may be observing signs of an outdoor gas leak if:

• You hit a gas line while digging
• Smell a strong gas odor in the air
• You see or hear any unusual occurrences such as a high-pitched whistle or hissing sound, blowing dust, dead vegetation in a normally green area, continuous bubbles in an underwater area or ground fires

You should:

• Evacuate.  Keep unauthorized people from getting near the site.
• Call your local gas company immediately. 
• Call 911 if you believe the situation is dangerous.
• Abandon your car, backhoe, or other equipment until the scene is deemed safe by the authorities.

Do not:

• Use anything that could generate a spark or flame.
• Start up or shut down motor vehicles or electrical equipment.
• Use a telephone or cell phone in or near the area where the signs of the leak were observed.
• Attempt to repair or backfill any damaged or potentially damaged pipeline.