Outside gas odors should be reported right away - do not try to locate the source yourself. If you smell or hear escaping gas: Don't position or operate vehicles or powered equipment where leaking gas may be present.
Yes, you can sometimes smell a gas leak outside, especially if the gas is odorized. Most natural gas suppliers add a substance called mercaptan to natural gas, which gives it a distinctive sulfur or rotten egg smell. If there is a gas leak outside, you may notice this odor.
If You Smell Gas or Suspect a Gas Leak. If you smell natural gas or suspect a gas leak, don't delay – get away! Get everyone away from the area or out of the building immediately, report the situation to 911 and then call our 24/7 hotline at 877-832-6747.
Call for Help: Once you are at a safe distance, call the fire department or your gas company to report the gas smell. Do Not Re-enter: Stay away from the area until professionals have assessed the situation and declared it safe. Your safety is the top priority, so it's crucial to act quickly and responsibly.
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.
Breathing gasoline vapor can cause headache, nausea, and dizziness. Extremely high levels can cause fainting and even death. Gasoline in the air can also irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. Gasoline splashed in the eyes can cause eye injury.
Phantosmia refers to detecting smells that aren't really there. It's a symptom of many common conditions, including allergies, colds and upper respiratory infections. It could also indicate a brain-related condition, including epilepsy, stroke or Alzheimer's disease.
DO call 911 to notify police and fire officials. DO warn others to stay out of the area. DO stay nearby until a gas company representative arrives, or until you've told the company where you can be reached.
One often not considered source of a “gas-like” smell that can come from your home is bacteria inside of your sink or sewer system. It has a similar smell to the sulfur that is added to gas to give it an odor but is obviously less dangerous.
What to Do if You Suspect a Natural Gas Leak. If you smell a natural gas odor, hear the hissing sound of gas escaping or see other signs of a leak: IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE the area, and from a safe location either call 911 or SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200. DON'T smoke, or light a match, candle or other flame.
Responding to a Leak
If you smell gas immediately evacuate the area and when in a safe location, call SoCalGas at 800-427-2200 or 911. SoCalGas can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Gas Company is responsible for the main gas lines that run from the street to the property line, while property owners are responsible for the gas lines that extend from the property line to the building.
It's normal for a faint odor to remain after lighting a stove or if the pilot light in a hot water heater, gas fireplace or other appliance goes out. Nonetheless, any possible leak must be taken seriously, especially if the odor is strong, persistent, or accompanied by a hissing sound.
Signs of a possible gas leak
Leave the area immediately. Call 9-1-1.
Unaddressed outdoor leaks can also create health risks and damage the environment. You may see dying vegetation and greenhouse gases leaking into the atmosphere. It is as vital to report an outdoor leak as calling emergency services for an indoor leak.
In some instances, the smell of gas may be present naturally. However, leaks can occur, and we want to make sure they are resolved as quickly as possible. Natural gas is odorless, but an additive called mercaptan is included to alert people of leaks.
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.
Although Alliant Energy adds a distinctive odor to natural gas as a safety precaution to assist in the detection of leaks, your sense of smell might not be enough to detect a leak. Strong smells in the area, like cooking or chemical odors, can mask the smell of natural gas.
Sewer gas produces a very distinct rotten egg smell, caused when organic materials break down and decompose to form hydrogen sulfide. If you're unsure about the smell coming from your drains or sewers, call a licensed plumber who can perform an inspection or clear and clean blockages.
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.
If there is a gas smell but no leaks, it could be the lingering propane odor due to poor ventilation or it coming from your neighbor. The dirty sewage system, contaminated well, or rotten garbage (like veggies, dead animals, residual foods, etc.) might also be the source of the smell.
In addition to having a distinct smell, natural gas leaks are often visual, causing bubbling water, blowing dirt or dead vegetation. You may also see sinkholes or exposed pipe. It's also possible to hear a hissing sound near a natural gas line or meter.
Rotten Egg Odors
For safety purposes, utility companies use an additive called mercaptan that gives colorless and odorless gases a smell that is hard to miss. Most people describe this smell as something like rotten eggs, sewage, or sulfur.
Protein breaks down into amino acids, which the body converts into ammonia. The body then releases this ammonia through urine and sweat, which may produce an odor. Dehydration can also make the sweat smell like ammonia. This is because the body needs water to get rid of ammonia through sweat.