Natural gas is the world’s cleanest fossil fuel, producing only carbon dioxide, water vapor and small amounts of nitrogen oxide when burned. Natural gas is also used to power a wide range of consumer products, including furnaces, fireplaces, clothes dryers, and stoves. In fact, it’s likely that at least one of your appliances runs on natural gas.
Like almost all sources of energy, natural gas can be dangerous if improperly handled. By following a few simple safety tips (and knowing what to do if you have a gas leak or have been exposed to one), you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
5 Natural Gas Safety Tips: Signs, Symptoms and What to Do When a Gas Leak Occurs
According to the American Gas Association, over 189 million Americans use natural gas in their homes. Following these natural gas safety tips can help you enjoy the benefits of natural gas.
1. Know the Signs of Natural Gas Leak
Pipes or appliances powered by natural gas can develop leaks, which can have potentially negative effects. It’s important to be able to identify signs of a natural gas leak and to know what to do if you have one. If you detect any of the following signs of a natural gas leak in your house or think you have been exposed, contact 911 immediately.
The smell of rotten eggs. In its natural state, natural gas is odorless and colorless. To make gas leaks easier to detect, gas companies add chemicals called odorants to create a natural gas smell similar to sulphur or rotting eggs. The stronger this smell, the more likely it is that you have a gas leak. You may get a slight whiff of this smell when turning on an older gas grill, but most energy-efficient grills made in the last 15 years should not produce an odor.
Hissing sounds. Large gas leaks in pipes or appliances may produce hissing noises, even if the appliance is turned off. Check pipes and appliances regularly, listening for any hissing noises.
Air bubbles outside your home. Natural gas leaks can also occur in underground piping outside the home. If you see bubbles in standing water—including puddles and mud—it may be a sign of natural gas dispersing through the soil and into the surrounding air.
Dead or dying plants. Dead, dying or stunted plants inside or outside your home can be a potential sign of a natural gas leak in your home, especially if you’ve been taking proper care of your plants. The presence of natural gas prevents a plant’s roots from absorbing oxygen and can lead to wilting. Natural gas leaks can also cause smaller-than-normal leaves on trees, wilted plants and yellowish patches of grass.
- Higher-than-normal gas usage. An increase in the amount of natural gas your home uses can indicate a natural gas leak. Seasonal increases in natural gas use is to be expected when using a gas furnace, but unexplained increases might suggest a leak somewhere in or around your home.
2. Be Aware of Physical Symptoms from a Natural Gas Leak
3. Know How to Test for Gas Leaks in Your Home
If you smell gas, you may have a gas leak. If you think you have a problem, extinguish all sources of sparks, including turning off the pilot lights on your gas stove, furnace or water heater. Do not use your cell phone. Open your windows to let fresh air in and remove people and pets from the premises.
If you detect any odor of gas, you should contact your local utility company or 911. Don’t re-enter your home.
1. Inspect Gas-powered Appliances
Conduct regular inspections of gas appliances to ensure they are working properly.
Common gas-powered appliances include furnaces, electric clothes dryers, water heaters, stoves and electric generators. Most have a pilot light that should appear to be small and blue with a yellow tip. If you see an orange or red flame, contact the appliance's manufacturer.
2. Install a Gas Leak Detector
One of the best ways to detect a gas leak is to use a gas leak detector. Given how dangerous a gas leak can be, installing a fast and dependable leak detector should give you an early warning of trouble.
3. Try the Soapy Water Test
Leaking gas will form tell-tale bubbles if you have a problem with a connection or pipe. Gently mix a teaspoon of dish soap with water, being careful not to create a bubble. Place the mixture where you suspect a problem. If bubbles do form, leave the area immediately.
4. Track Fluctuations in Gas Usage
If you have a gas leak, you may notice higher than normal meter readings. Large fluctuations in usage without a reasonable explanation could be a clue to a problem. Of course, if the lead occurs in the line before the meter, you won’t be able to detect it with this method.
5. Check the Color of Your Stove Burner Flames
What to Do If You Have a Gas Leak in Your Home
Knowing what to do in a gas leak is as important as being able to recognize the signs and symptoms of a leak. If you suspect you’re dealing with a gas leak in a house, take the following steps:
Evacuate the premises. Everyone in the home should leave the building immediately and regroup at a pre-chosen safe place. This limits your exposure to the gas and puts distance between you and the home in case the gas leak ignites.
Leave the doors and windows open. On your way out of the home, open all doors and windows. This allows natural gas to vent outdoors.
Call for help. As soon as everyone is outside and a safe distance from the home, call for help.
How to report a gas leak
In the event of a natural gas leak, homeowners should call:
- 911,
- their local fire department or
- their state’s natural gas-emergency line
811: Call before you dig
Before landscaping or excavating, call 811 to make sure you won’t accidentally disturb gas lines as you dig. Rupturing a gas line with a shovel or heavy equipment can have serious consequences, including large-scale explosions.