Remember, if you smell gas inside your building or home: Turn off all appliances and pilot lights. Turn off your supply at the gas meter. Open all doors and windows for ventilation.
The Smell of Natural Gas
Mercaptan is harmless to humans and pets, and the unsavory smell simply serves as a warning of gas leakage. But it can crop up at other times as well, and smelling it does not necessarily mean that you have a gas leak.
If you smell gas, particularly if you find that the source is your furnace, you should immediately leave the home and contact emergency services. Whether the source is a gas leak, a carbon monoxide leak, or an electrical issue the potential for a serious issue is too great to ignore.
In an emergency, your gas can be turned off at the main gas service shutoff valve. Do not shut off the gas unless you smell gas, hear gas escaping, see a broken gas line or suspect a gas leak.
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.
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.
DO NOT open your windows if you smell natural gas in your home! Natural gas is combustible only when it makes up 5-15% of the air in a given space. By opening a window, you might actually make the area more unsafe. DO NOT turn on/off any lights or appliances if you smell natural gas in your home or building.
If you smell gas inside:
Go to a phone that is not near the smell and call your local gas company right away. (If the smell is strong or you are unsure, leave the building and then call.) They will come and make the area safe at no charge to you.
Shutting Off Natural Gas
Natural gas leaks and explosions are responsible for a significant number of fires during and after disasters. It is vital that all household members know how to shut off natural gas.
Keep The Stove and Cylinder Off When Not In Use
To prevent uncalled fire accidents, turn off the knob after use. The kitchen is not the place you spend most of your time, keeping the knobs off will ensure your gas won't leak while it remains unattended.
If you smell this odor in your home, and you're sure it isn't actual rotten food, you could have a natural gas leak. Other ways to identify a gas leak include: Bubbles in standing water: If you have standing water outside your home, say in a pool or fountain, there could be a leak in your outdoor gas line.
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.
Small gas leaks may not have a smell or other physical signs. However, if there is a gas leak in the home, a person may notice: the smell of sulfur or rotten eggs. a hissing or whistling sound near a gas line.
High levels of natural gas exposure can cause natural gas poisoning, which is characterized by fatigue, severe headaches, memory problems, loss of concentration, nausea, loss of consciousness, and suffocation.
If you're outside a property and can smell gas, then it's likely that there's a leak and you should contact the National Gas Emergency Service number. A gas leak in the home is often caused by a faulty or poorly fitted appliance. The leak tends to come from the pipe that leads into your appliance.
You should never consider using a gas stove for heating the house or leaving your oven on for long periods solely to warm your home. These appliances are only designed for cooking food and aren't intended to be used as a heat source.
Yes, turning off your gas will prevent issues if there is a gas leak. I never have but I do turn off my water in case of a leak and oil burner to prevent wasting fuel. Turning off gas will be a personal preference, just as turning off the water is.
3. Why does my house smell like gas, but there's no leak? A faint propane smell may not be cause for alarm. It's normal for a propane odor to linger when lighting a stove, or if the pilot light in a gas fireplace, hot water heater or other appliance goes out.
The most common cause of explosions and fires associated with gas leaks is a mechanical failure of the gas containing equipment. When the failure occurs, the gas can leak creating fumes that ignite, causing explosions and fire. Improperly maintained equipment and pipes.
But since you spend so much time in your home, you may want to speed up the outgassing process. Here are a few ways: Ventilate, either with your HVAC system or by opening the windows, by using fans etc. Heat.
There Is the Potential for a Gas Explosion
Possibly the greatest danger of all that could result from a gas leak is an explosion. Even a small leak in a confined space that builds up over time can cause an explosion if there is a spark or some sort of ignition source.
Gas leaks are subtle in smell but very obvious in bills. They can even go on for months undetected. But if there's a significant amount of gas escaping from your system, it can cause a spike in your gas bill. Pay attention to any sudden changes in your monthly invoice.
What does a gas leak smell like in your house? Natural gas is odorless, but a substance known as mercaptan is added to your natural gas so that it gives off a pungent rotten egg smell. If you notice this odor in your home, it's possible you have a natural gas leak.