Smell gas, see smoke or flames? Leave the building and call 911 or your gas utility from outside before anything else.
Safety first
I smell gas near my appliance. What do I do?
Leave the building now and call your gas utility's emergency line or 911 from outside. Do not switch lights or appliances on or off, use a phone inside, or light anything. Appliance repair comes after the gas utility has made the area safe.
Calls answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Calls are routed to an independent appliance repair technician. Reviewed .
Safety comes before diagnosis: gas smell near an appliance
Natural gas and propane are odorized so you can smell leaks. A sustained smell means stop, leave and call from a safe distance.
- Leave
- Get everyone and pets out. Leave the door open behind you.
- Call
- Your gas utility's emergency number or 911, from outside.
- Wait
- Do not go back in until the utility says it is safe.
Urgency: gas smell near an appliance
- Act now
Any persistent gas smell
Leave and call the gas utility or 911.
- This week
Utility has cleared it and found an appliance fault
Book a repair with a gas-qualified technician.
Common sources once the utility has checked: gas smell near an appliance
| Sign | Likely cause | What fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Smell with a burner off | Knob not fully off, or a leaking valve | Valve repaired by a qualified technician |
| Smell after moving the appliance | Loose or damaged flexible connector | Connector replaced |
| Brief smell at oven ignition | Weak igniter delaying ignition | Igniter replaced |
| Smell near a gas dryer | Connector or valve leak | Connection repaired and leak tested |
What you should and should not do: gas smell near an appliance
Do not operate switches
Sparks from switches, doorbells and phones can ignite gas.
Do not look for the leak
Leave it to the utility.
Shut off the gas only if safe
Only if the meter valve is outside and you know how.
Do not: gas smell near an appliance
Light a match or lighter
Even to check a pilot.
Start a car in an attached garage
Move away on foot first.
Assume it will clear
Call even if the smell is faint.
After the utility has been out
Gas utilities typically respond to leak reports quickly and will shut off the supply to an appliance or the whole house if they find a leak. They may tag the appliance so it is not used until it has been repaired. Keep any paperwork they leave.
The repair then depends on what was found. A leaking flexible connector behind a range or dryer is replaced, a faulty valve inside the appliance is repaired or the appliance is replaced, and a leak in the household gas piping is work for a licensed plumber or gas fitter under local code. When you call for appliance repair, say that the utility has been out and what they reported, so you are connected with a technician who handles gas appliances. Ask that every connection disturbed during the repair is leak tested before the visit ends.
Questions people ask: gas smell near an appliance
Should I call an appliance repair line first?
No. Call your gas utility or 911 first. The appliance repair comes after the area is safe.
Do I need a carbon monoxide alarm?
Homes with gas appliances should have CO alarms, as the CPSC and many local codes advise. They do not detect gas leaks, which is a separate hazard.
What does a gas leak smell like?
Utilities add a sulfur or rotten-egg odor to natural gas and propane.
This page is general safety information, not a diagnosis. Appliances combine electricity, water and sometimes gas. If you are unsure whether something is safe, unplug it or switch it off at the breaker and have a technician inspect it. For a gas smell, leave and call 911 or the gas utility.
Want it checked today?
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Call Now (877) 686-5950Have this ready when you call
- Your ZIP code
- The appliance, brand and model number
- What is happening, any error code, and whether water or gas is involved
Gas smell, smoke or flames: leave and call 911 or the gas utility first.