What to Do if You Smell Gas in Your House

Natural gas, when used properly, is a safe, efficient and relatively eco-friendly power source. However, if a leak occurs, it can lead to a variety of catastrophic situations, including fires and poisoning. In this guide, you’ll learn how to detect a gas leak and deal with it quickly and safely.

How to Recognize the Smell of Natural Gas in Your Home

Natural gas gives off a strong, foul odor similar to that of sulfur, rotten eggs or the spray of a skunk. This smell is deliberately added to the gas by manufacturers to help customers recognize gas leaks. If you detect this unpleasant smell, it is critical to take action immediately. Before concluding that it is natural gas, however, make sure the smell isn’t coming from somewhere else, such as your sewage, garage or a dead animal outside.

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.

It’s also important to keep in mind that, even though natural gas has a distinctive odor, you may be unable to smell it if:

Your sense of smell is diminished.
You’re too far from the source of the leak to detect it.
You have a cold, allergies, sinus condition or other physical condition.
You’re unable to detect the odor due to a prolonged period of exposure to it.
You’re using alcohol, tobacco, drugs or certain medications.
Other odors are masking the odor of the natural gas.

Luckily, there are various other things you can do if you suspect a gas leak:

Hearing a hissing/whistling sound: Depending on the location of the leak, you might hear a soft whistling or hissing coming from the gas line.
Seeing the formation of bubbles on the leak area: If you think there might be a leak in your gas line, mix some water and soap and then put some on the spot where you suspect the leak is. If bubbles start to appear, this means that escaping gas is causing the mixture to foam, and you have a gas leak on your hands.
Seeing dust blown around outside your house by the suspected area: If there is a leak in your natural gas outside the home, you might notice debris and dust getting blown around as a result.
Dying or dead plants: If you have plants that are dead, stunted or dying in or outside of your home, this may be another sign of a natural gas leak. This is especially likely if you’ve been taking proper care of them. When natural gas is present, a plant’s roots are unable to absorb oxygen, and it may wilt as a result. Natural gas can also cause trees to grow leaves that are smaller than normal and cause sections of your grass to turn yellowish.
Experiencing natural gas poisoning symptoms: Inhaling small amounts of natural gas may cause dizziness, headaches, nausea, irregular breathing and fatigue. Breathing in high amounts can lead to natural gas poisoning, the symptoms of which include severe headaches, fatigue, nausea, memory problems, passing out and suffocation. If you think you’re experiencing symptoms of natural gas inhalation, immediately contact a healthcare professional.
Above-average gas usage: If your home is using a higher amount of gas than before, this may be a sign of a gas leak. While sometimes increases in gas usage are expected — like when the weather gets colder — if there is an unexpected increase in your gas usage, this may suggest a gas leak.