If you smell something sulfur-like in the air (or skunk-like, rotten egg-like, or trash-like), don’t stick around to see if your breakfast has gone bad. If you smell gas, suspect a natural gas leak or other natural gas emergency, evacuate the area immediately and call 911 and the Washington Gas Emergency Leak Line at 844-WASHGAS (select option 1). Many homes use natural gas for heat, hot water, and home appliances. Step 2: Go directly to a safe location and call both CenterPoint Energy and 911 . Natural gas smell outside house? While there are other things that can go wrong with an electric furnace, this isn’t one of them. First, I have been noticing a strong natural gas odor outside my house, especially when the furnace is running. Layman here, so please excuse my ignorance. Rotten Egg-Like Smell Natural gas gives off a garlic-like smell. Stay a safe distance from the area. If you're unfamiliar with this odor, test the "scratch and sniff" spot inside of our gas safety brochure. so, I turned a burner on and viola! Of course, this is a trick question since natural gas is odorless, and technically you are smelling the odorant in the gas stream. The smell is something like gas or exhaust. Ok so I actually have a couple of questions here. I have a natural gas furnace. It can also be described as smelling like a rotten egg or sulfur. It only makes sense that having a unit that runs on some sort of gas would produce the gas smell. Look and listen Now, when the furnace runs, It smells wiered outside the house, but not inside. So, what does gas smell like UK? Use your EYES You cannot see natural gas, however if you SEE a vapour, ground frosting, or a significant area of brown vegetation, that could be an indication of a natural gas leak. Recognize a Natural Gas Leak Recognize a Natural Gas Leak It is important for you to know how to recognize potentially dangerous natural gas leaks, so use your senses: Smell: Natural gas has no odor in its natural state, so we add a harmless odorant called mercaptan, which people describe to be similar to rotten eggs or sulfur. Interestingly, although known for its “rotten egg” smell, natural gas is odorless when taken from the ground. there is the smell. When you get your nose close enough to your meter, do you smell gas? If you smell rotten eggs and suspect a natural gas leak: stop what you’re doing, go outside and call the FortisBC Emergency Line at 1-800-663-9911 (24 hours) or 911. The two most common sources of a rotten egg smell are a natural gas leak, and escaping sewer gas. When a gas leak is present, it can interact with electrical and fire sources. Howdy r/homeimprovement. Don't attempt to put out flames. Natural gas is a combustible mixture of hydrocarbon gases, and in its pure form, it is colorless, shapeless, and odorless. ... Go outside or leave the area immediately. Or is it normal? Natural gas is colorless and odorless, so we’ve added an odorant called mercaptan to warn you of a natural gas leak. Alternatively, what if you smell it outside? If you suspect a gas leak, leave the premises. Remember, there is no charge for UGI personnel to come and investigate a natural gas odor. Fire near pipeline, a white cloud or fog, dying plants in a pattern … Move in a upwind direction away from the leak or vapor cloud where you can no longer smell gas and maintain a safe distance. before the burner ignites, the gas smells normal like natural gas should. A harmless gas called mercaptan is added to natural gas to make it smell like rotten eggs (or sulphur). Natural gas is naturally odorless and colorless. Prepare yourself for any emergency, not just a natural gas outage, by having extra supplies available. For effortless detection, utility companies add a harmless chemical known as Mercaptan to give a distinctive odor. In fact, a faint gas smell is an unavoidable consequence of using gas fireplace logs. Natural gas has no smell, which means a … What is the deal? Natural Gas and Propane Furnaces Can Both Smell Like Gas If you do not have a natural gas furnace or a propane furnace, then read no further – this article is not for you. In any case, if you are sensing that rotten egg, sulfur-like odor, then you know that there is a good chance that natural gas is present, and you need to take action. Natural gas is a safe and reliable energy source, but can be dangerous if leaks occur. The characteristic “rotten egg” odor we are used to is an odorant added by the utility company called mercaptan and is added as an aid in detecting leaks. Follow directions from emergency responders. And, if you smell natural gas outdoors, leave the entire area immediately. My neighbor and I both smelled natural gas a few weeks ago between our houses. Do not use electric switches, telephones (including cell phones), start or drive a car or anything that could cause a spark. Smell. The smell of rotten eggs is instantly recognizable and can be an indicator of a serious problem in your home. It went away, so we both ignored it. In its natural state, natural gas is a safe, odorless, colorless, and efficient gas. You should contact your gas supplier immediately and notify them. If gas ignites, let it be. If you smell gas outdoors, leave the area with a similar degree of caution. When I go near the gas meter, I can smell some gas. What do I do if I smell natural gas? To make natural gas detectable, a chemical known as Mercaptan is added. I noticed the smell in the kitchen while my wife was cooking. A medium pressure distribution system pressure regulator might have failed and the vent is piped to the outside. Natural gas is only explosive when mixed in the air at a concentration between 5 and 15 percent. Some individuals' sense of smell is very sensitive to natural gas, while others can't smell it at all. This is why you need to get outside and away from the house immediately and call for help. For your safety, we promptly investigate suspected natural gas leaks as a FREE service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This chemical allows us to smell natural gas at levels well below explosive levels. The first thing you should do if you smell Natural Gas is to call 911 or the emergency number of your natural gas distribution company, at a safe distance away from the leak (see below for a list of companies).. How to detect a natural gas leak: Smell: natural gas distribution companies add mercaptan to the gas to give it a distinctive, pungent, onion or rotten egg smell … However, the general public can assist in detecting gas leaks. When it leaks into an enclosed space, like a basement, it can be a serious problem. To my knowledge, the gas lines under the house haven't had any leaks, but they haven't been inspected either. when she turned the burners off, the smell went away. Natural gas is lighter than air, so it dissipates into the air rapidly, making accidental combustion difficult. Download NJNG’s natural gas leak safety brochure, It Smells Bad for a Good Reason, written in both Spanish and English.To request a FREE print copy of this brochure, send an email request or call 800-221-0051. Anyway. Call the Fire Department and then NW Natural. Be aware that vehicles or electrical equipment can pose a safety risk. Hello all, There is a Gas meter outside the house. NOT the gas. If you smell natural gas or have no heat in your home, call our natural gas emergency line at 1-800-511-3447, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This smell is actually added to the natural gas by utility companies to warn customers of a potential leak. Unfortunately, natural gas leaks may occur without the homeowner even realizing there is a gas leak. Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms can't detect a gas leak, but your nose can. If you smell an odour that is similar to skunk or rotten eggs, there may be a natural gas leak. Sound. Otherwise, move to an area outside of the natural gas odor area, call 9-1-1 and notify them of the situation. Natural gas safety tips from Washington Gas. Natural Gas is colorless and odorless. In its natural state, natural gas is odorless, tasteless and non-toxic. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Several times during the winter months 911 operators will get a flurry of calls about the odor of natural gas. Natural gas does not have an odor, so a chemical that smells like rotten eggs is added to the gas. Although rare, a fire in or near a gas appliance or piping are also signs of a leak. Not a lot of gas but when I get my nose close to the meter, I can smell the gas. It’s natural to be worried when you smell gas in the home, but in this case, the odds are that the condition is harmless. If a natural gas smell is noticed outside: Call the University Operator (dial "0" on campus) or the UNL Police at 402-472 -2222 to report the situation. (Customers with hearing or speech impairments, … Do not use any potential ignition sources or open flames, use common sense and never take risks that may endanger you or others. Indicators of a gas leak. SMELL . In the unlikely event of a natural gas leak, it’s worth knowing where your home’s natural gas meter box is located and how to turn off your supply if needed.. To help detect leaks, natural gas has an unpleasant “rotten egg” smell added. Step 1: Leave immediately on foot! (This has been happening for over a year) Is this a sign of gas leaking? What gives? How the smell of natural gas outside might be related to the weather wcnc.com - Brad Panovich. How to tell if there is a gas leak. I was not sure if that was coming from my furnace exhaust pipe yet, but I basically stuck my nose right under the exhaust/vent pipe, and there it was that smell. If your nose detects this unique odor, contact UGI immediately at 800-276-2722. Turn off the main gas supply valve on your propane tank if it is safe to do so. Understanding some of the warning signs of a natural gas leak in the home may very well save a life. That makes it easier for people to detect gas … As a safety precaution, mercaptan, a sulfur-like odor, is added to natural gas to help identify and locate gas leaks. The same holds true for natural gas or propane as a utility. LOOK . They'll help you stay safe. If you smell a rotten egg or sulfur-like odor in or around your home, at work or in your neighborhood, this odor may be the result of a natural gas leak. Mercaptan has a smell similar to rotten eggs. There may be leakage of gas piping or at the meter assembly. Both Propane and Natural Gas Furnaces Can Smell Like Gas. But because it's also flammable, we add a distinctive sulfur or "rotten egg" smell to the gas that's delivered to your home or business. Walk to a safe distance, if possible, and don’t attempt to correct or pinpoint the issue yourself. Smell. What to do if you smell Natural Gas; ... On the outside of the appliance, black or brown scorched areas. Shut off the gas. Even if the rotten egg smell seems mild, go. Local utilities add a non-toxic chemical odorant called mercaptan to make leaks easy to detect by the distinct smell. If gas odor is sensed in any building, then the procedures summarized under section II, above, apply. 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