Suspect a natural gas leak?
First, move your feet!
Then call when you’re down the street.
How to Recognize and Respond to a Natural Gas Leak
Use your senses of sight, hearing and smell, along with any of the following signs, to alert yourself to the presence of a gas leak:
Smell
- The distinctive odor of natural gas
Look
- A damaged connection to a gas appliance
- Dirt or water being blown into the air
- Dead or dying vegetation (in an otherwise moist area) over or near pipeline areas
- A fire or explosion near a pipeline
- Exposed pipeline after an earthquake, fire, flood or other disaster
Listen
- An unusual sound, such as a hissing, whistling, or roaring sound near a gas line or appliance
It makes sense to trust your senses.
Clean, efficient and nontoxic, natural gas is one of the safest, most environmentally friendly fossil fuels in use today. While incidents are rare, it’s still important to know the signs of a natural gas leak—and to trust your senses.
To help you SMELL a leak from a gas line or appliance, a familiar odor like rotten eggs is often added to natural gas. Or you might SEE blowing dirt, bubbling water or an unusual area of dead vegetation. A leaking natural gas pipeline might also make a hissing sound you can HEAR. If you suspect a gas leak, leave the area. Then, call your local natural gas company and 9-1-1. Click here for a list of natural gas companies.