Sometimes, gas is released from your furnace every time you start it. The odor is usually faint and should dissipate within a short time when you open the windows. If the odor seems to be spread across your house and does not go away, it is probably a leak. A leak could pose fire and pollution hazards in your home.
It's reasonable for a gas furnace to emit a bit of gas whenever it turns on due to its combustion process. The odor should be faint and disappear relatively quickly.
There is no cause for concern. A faint smell of gas anywhere is not a cause for concern. But if it persists inside the house call the gas company to check it out. It takes fairly high concentrations (strong gas odor) of gas in the air for anything bad to happen.
No. The smell of gas is never ``normal''. That's why they put the most obnoxious odorants available in the gas, mimicking putrefied onions, so that people wouldn't get accustomed to it and consider it ``normal''. Open all the windows and make sure the house is well ventilated.
The gas smell may be normal, if it is around the burners. If you have negative pressure inside your house caused by kitchen and bath fans, then you may smell gas outside of the furnace, even though the furnace is operating correctly.
Rotten Egg Smells
The sulfur does smell similar to rotten eggs or dirty gym socks. If you've noticed a suspicious stink in your home, then you may have a gas leak — especially if the smell is strongest near your furnace.
No, carbon monoxide (CO) alarms cannot detect natural gas leaks. They are designed to detect the presence of carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas formed during incomplete combustion of fuels like oil, gas, propane, and wood.
If your home smells like gas, but there's no apparent leak, here are steps you should follow: Ventilate the house by opening all windows and turning on ceiling fans. After this, if the smell is persistent, evacuate your home. Put out any materials that can create a flame or cause a spark, such as any open flames.
Furnace Smells Like Gas or Rotten Eggs
If you're noticing a gas smell from your furnace, or your furnace room smells like rotten eggs, that smell is probably sulfur. This indicates you have a significant natural gas leak, because gas companies add this odor to alert you.
Gas Meters:
The meter outside you houses a regulator on it which helps control the flow of gas into your home or business. There are times it will normally bleed-off or "burp" small amounts of gas to keep the pressure from building too high in your home. This is normal. So if you are near a meter you might smell it.
Exposure to a slow gas leak in your house or apartment may cause deadly symptoms including sickness, weakness, nausea, suffocation, and headaches. If you feel sick or abnormal, immediately call an ambulance to confirm if you have been exposed to gas poisoning.
Natural gas leaks are particularly likely to cause smells in small, enclosed areas where gas can build up. If the leak is outside, the smell may seem to come and go as the breeze blows it away. The other big sign to look out for is a strange noise.
The smell of gas, whether inside or outside the home, must be taken seriously. Even a tiny spark can ignite the gas, causing damage to your property or worse.
All appliances that use gas as fuel emit carbon monoxide (CO), a deadly and odorless gas. If your gas furnace has a faulty or damaged ventilation system, the indoor air of your home can be contaminated with methane, CO, and other dangerous emissions.
An odor of rotten eggs near an appliance is likely associated with natural gas. Look around the walls for stains; if you notice any discoloration, it could signify a gas leak. You can feel the area for any puffiness, which may indicate excessive heat, which is another indication of a gas leak.
Sometimes, gas is released from your furnace every time you start it. The odor is usually faint and should dissipate within a short time when you open the windows. If the odor seems to be spread across your house and does not go away, it is probably a leak. A leak could pose fire and pollution hazards in your home.
Any furnace that burns fuel produces carbon monoxide as a byproduct. This is the same for any appliance in your home that burns fuel, such as a gas range. Therefore, if your furnace uses natural gas, propane, or oil to make heat, your furnace creates carbon monoxide. Electric furnaces do not create carbon monoxide.
An outdoor furnace vent smells like gas sometimes since it's designed to let out by-products of combustion. If you smell gas from it, you should take it as an indication of a problem with the vent. Ensure that your home is well ventilated, and then seek assistance from heating experts.
Many adverse health effects of gasoline are due to individual chemicals in gasoline, mainly BTEX, that are present in small amounts. Breathing small amounts of gasoline vapors can lead to nose and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion and breathing difficulties.
Keep in mind that, if the smell is faint, this is not necessarily a cause for alarm — it's perfectly normal for a natural gas smell to linger if you're lighting your stove or when the pilot light for one of your appliances goes out.
Here's what you should DO if you smell gas: DO leave the home, building, or area of the suspected leak. Get to a safe area as quickly as possible. After leaving your home, DO call the 24-hour emergency number for Peoples at 1-800-400-4271, or call your local emergency response number.
Go to the Home app on your iPhone or iPad. , then tap Home Settings. Tap Safety & Security. Tap Sound Recognition, then turn on Smoke & CO Alarm.