Natural gas is odorless and invisible, so utilities add a rotten-egg smell to the gas before it enters your home to make leaks more noticeable.
If you notice the rotten-egg smell or hear any unusual hissing or whistling, there may be a natural gas leak. If you’ve just moved the gas dryer or range, you may have disturbed the flexible connector to the unit. What do you do?
Have everyone leave the area immediately. Don’t stop to look for the source of the smell or to open windows. Don’t touch anything that might create a spark, such as a light switch, garage door operator or gas range. Even a cell phone or landline phone may create a hazard.
Call your local utility from a remote location. The utility company will quickly send someone to investigate. If you think a major problem exists, call 911.
The utility company can turn off the gas main or even the feed to the area if they think the problem is significant. The company has specialized equipment to locate the source of the leak and secure the area as quickly as possible. Serious leaks rarely occur, but when they do, the utility should be involved.
Quick Tip #117