Emergency-first safety guide
If You Smell Gas, Leave the Area and Report It From a Safe Location
Do not stay inside to investigate, operate switches, use a phone in the affected area, or rely on a connected device. Follow your local gas utility and emergency-service guidance.
Stop reading and move to safety if this may be happening now.
Leave the building or affected area promptly. Avoid flames, smoking, electrical switches, appliances, phones, vehicles, or anything that could create a spark in the affected area. From a safe location, call 911 or the local gas utility emergency number as directed locally, and do not return until authorized by emergency responders or the utility.
In a suspected gas emergency, prioritize these actions.
Leave promptly
Move people and pets out of the building or affected area without stopping to investigate.
Avoid ignition
Do not use flames, smoke, operate electrical switches or appliances, or use a phone in the affected area.
Report from safety
Call 911 or the local gas utility emergency number from a safe location, following local instructions.
Wait for authorization
Do not re-enter or restore service until emergency responders or the gas utility say it is safe.
01
Leave first; report the suspected leak from outside the affected area.
A gas odor, hissing near a gas line, damaged gas equipment, or another sign of a possible leak requires the local emergency path. Do not search for the source or attempt a repair.
Local utility and emergency instructions take precedence over this general guide.
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Move away
Leave the building or affected area promptly and help others leave without creating delay.
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Do not create a spark
Avoid switches, plugs, appliances, phones, vehicles, flames, and smoking in the affected area.
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Call from a safe location
Contact 911 or the local gas utility emergency number and describe the situation.
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Follow responder instructions
Stay away until the utility or emergency responders authorize return and any required repair or inspection is complete.
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A fuel-gas concern and carbon monoxide concern are not the same event.
Natural gas and propane are fuels. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless toxic gas produced by incomplete combustion. Odor alone cannot be used to rule carbon monoxide in or out.
If anyone has symptoms that may indicate carbon monoxide poisoning, move to fresh air and contact 911 or local emergency medical help. Follow current public-safety guidance.
| Concern | What may prompt action | Immediate path |
|---|---|---|
| Suspected natural gas or propane leak | Odor, hissing, damaged line or equipment, or utility warning | Leave, avoid ignition, and report from a safe location |
| Suspected carbon monoxide exposure | Alarm or possible symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, or weakness | Move to fresh air and contact 911 or local emergency medical help |
| Unclear condition | Conflicting alarms, symptoms, unusual equipment behavior, or uncertainty | Treat it as a safety issue and follow local emergency guidance |
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Let the utility or qualified professional determine the source and repair path.
Do not turn gas service or affected equipment back on unless the responsible utility or qualified professional has authorized the action. Keep the incident details, inspection findings, repairs, and any alarm or equipment replacement records.
A connected sensor or app record may be supplementary information, but it does not establish that the area is safe.
04
Keep official contacts, alarms, and maintenance responsibilities current.
Know the gas utility's emergency number, teach household members how to leave, and follow current official guidance for fuel-burning equipment, ventilation, alarm selection, placement, testing, replacement, and professional service.
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Questions people ask before the next step
Should I search for the source if I smell gas?
No. Leave the affected area, avoid ignition sources, and report the suspected leak from a safe location following local utility and emergency guidance.
Can I use a phone before leaving?
Do not use a phone in the affected area. Move to a safe location first, then call 911 or the local gas utility emergency number as directed locally.
Can an app tell me it is safe to go back inside?
No. Do not re-enter until the gas utility or emergency responders authorize it.
Is carbon monoxide the odor added to natural gas?
No. Carbon monoxide is odorless and toxic. The odor associated with fuel gas is a separate warning cue; follow the appropriate emergency guidance for either concern.
For a possible gas leak, use the local emergency path now.
Leave the affected area, avoid ignition sources, report from a safe location, and wait for authorization before returning.