What to do if you smell gas at home?

Author: Lawson Effertz  |  Last update: Friday, August 15, 2025

If you smell gas: If indoors, leave your home/building immediately! Do NOT make calls from your telephone land line or you cell phone while at home. Do NOT cause a spark. Leave windows and doors open while exiting, to allow gas to vent outside.

What should you do if you smell gas in your house?

If you smell gas inside your home or business:

Get out immediately and go to a safe location 300 feet away or more. Instruct others to leave and evacuate the premises immediately.

Is it safe to stay in a house that smells like gas?

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.

How long should you air out your house if you smell gas?

After you've had a leak, authorities typically recommend that you open up your doors and windows and let the home air out. Typically, you'll need to allow your home to air out for fifteen minutes to a few hours, but the exact timeframe depends on the severity of the leak and wind conditions in your area.

Should I open the door if I smell gas?

Open windows and doors only if it is possible to do so quickly and easily. Quickly leave the house or building, taking everyone, including pets, with you. Go to a location where you no long smell gas, and call your local natural gas utility. Call 911 if there appears to be an immediate danger.

I Smell Gas In My House - What To Do If You Smell Gas

Is a slight gas smell normal?

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.

How serious is a minor gas leak?

A natural gas leak in a house can cause potential fires, and inhaling the gas can cause natural gas poisoning. As with electricity, gasoline and other potentially dangerous energy sources, natural gas exposure must be handled with care.

Will a carbon monoxide detector detect a gas leak?

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.

How to get gas out of house quickly?

Leave the Windows and Doors Open

You'll especially want to do this if you have kids or pets to make sure they don't inhale too much of the smell. For a boost, use all the fans you have to make the air circulate more quickly. With help from your ceiling and room fans, you'll breathe fresh air at home in no time.

What if I smell gas but no leak?

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.

What smell can be mistaken for gas?

Hydrogen Sulfide

The gas has a strong scent of rotten eggs, which makes it distinct from other, similar gases. If you detect this rotten egg scent and you are using hydrogen sulfide at your facility, this could be evidence of a leak.

Should I leave my house if I smell gas?

A gas smell in your house, even if you use electricity, could indicate a gas leak or a problem with nearby gas lines. It's crucial to leave the house immediately, avoid using electrical switches, and contact a gas professional or emergency services right away.

Can I turn gas off myself?

Locate your main gas service shutoff valve. It's usually the first fitting on the natural gas supply pipe coming out of the ground next to the meter. With a wrench, turn the lever in either direction until it is crosswise to the pipe. Once the gas is turned off, leave it off.

Can I remove gas from my house?

Yes, you can fully remove natural gas from your house. Electricity can power all of your appliances, generate heat, and even power your car. This may surprise homeowners from Texas, California, and Florida, where natural gas is everywhere.

Can I just turn off my gas?

How to turn off your gas supply. Now you know where your meter is, you can turn off your gas supply should you need to in an emergency situation, or if advised to do so. Open your gas meter box and locate the red tap handle near to the pipe. This is the emergency control valve (ECV).

What do I do if my house smells like gas?

What To Do When You Smell Gas
  1. Immediately evacuate everyone in the house.
  2. Do not use anything that can produce a spark or flame.
  3. Open windows and doors as you got to provide ventilation.
  4. Turn off your gas meter if you know where it is.
  5. Call emergency services to inform them of the issues.

How urgent is a small 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.

How long does it take for gas to clear out of a house?

If it was a small leak that was quickly fixed, you may only need to wait a few minutes before entering again. However, if it was a more serious issue or took longer to fix a gas leak, you may want to wait up to several hours before returning.

Do you get charged if you have a gas leak?

An emergency gas engineer will be sent, free of charge, to 'make safe' your property. They won't repair appliances or pipework, though, that's something you'll need to arrange and pay for yourself.

Is it bad to smell a little bit of gas?

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.

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