What to do if you Smell Gas:
What To Do If You Smell Natural Gas
Immediate response to gas leaks is essential to ensure that public safety is maintained. Do not delay. Do not ignore gas odors. Using the guidelines below can help you deal with any potential gas leaks. Call your gas company or 101 for help. See:
Who to call in an emergency
Natural gas has no odor. Gas companies add a harmless chemical called mercaptan to give it its distinctive “rotten egg” smell. All natural gas and propane pipeline gas in Connecticut is odorized.
If you smell gas near an appliance, it may be just a pilot light that has gone out or a burner valve that is open slightly. If you find this problem and can fix it, the problem may be solved.
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. While waiting for the gas company field service representative:
Keep everyone away from the area of the odor.
Don’t smoke or strike any matches.
Don’t light any candles.
Don’t flip light switches on or off.
Don’t use a telephone.
Don’t use any electrical equipment or lights that might create a spark in the area of the odor.
Don’t use the doorbell.
Don’t adjust thermostats or appliance controls.
Don’t use elevators.
Put out all open flames.
If the odor is strong, leave the premises immediately and tell others to leave. Then, call your local gas company from a neighbor’s home.
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.
If you hear the sound of escaping gas, follow these steps:
Telephone your local gas company immediately from a neighbor’s phone.
Don’t go back inside your home or building until your local gas company says it is safe.
Keep others away from the area.
Your local gas company provides 24-hour emergency service every day of the year to provide immediate response to emergencies such as natural gas leaks. There is no charge to stop gas leaks.
NEVER turn the gas back on once it has been shut off due to a safety concern. Call your local gas company for assistance.
All repairs to gas lines on your premises must be made in accordance with local regulations, by a licensed plumber where required or by your local gas company.
How to Detect Gas Leaks:
Although gas leaks are uncommon, here’s how to know if one is present:
Smell
Gas, by definition, has no odour. A unique odorant is added to the Gas to assist customers in detecting leaks, allowing even minor breaches to be discovered rapidly.
Sound
A gas leak could also be indicated by an unusual noise from your device or a hissing sound from piping or connections.
Sight
Unusual flame behaviour at an appliance burner can also indicate a gas leak—Black or brown burnt spots on the outside of the appliance. A fire in or near a gas machine or piping can mean a leak, though uncommon. A white cloud or fog around the pipeline, dead plants in a pattern among healthy plants, and persistent bubbles in the water
Usage
A rapid spike in your gas consumption could signal a gas appliance or piping leak. Examine your gas bill to see whether it is unusually high.
Reasons for Gas Leaks:
- A gas appliance is disconnected.
- A gas appliance is being misused.
- Excavation, corrosion, and stress generated by improperly moving an instrument can all harm gas lines.
- Gas pipe materials that aren’t up to snuff.
