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The smell of natural gas inside your home is one of those situations where acting fast and acting correctly can make the difference between a close call and a catastrophe. Here’s exactly what to do — and what not to do.
First: Trust Your Nose
Natural gas itself is odorless, but Atlanta Gas Light and other suppliers add mercaptan — a sulfur compound — specifically so you can detect it. Most people describe it as a rotten egg or sulfur smell. If you’re smelling something like that inside your home, take it seriously even if it’s faint. A faint gas smell is not a problem that goes away on its own.
What to Do Immediately
- Don’t touch any electrical switches. Don’t flip light switches on or off. Don’t turn appliances on or off. Don’t unplug anything. Even the small spark from a light switch is enough to ignite accumulated gas.
- Don’t use your phone inside the house. Step outside before calling anyone — including 911. Cell phone transmissions can generate enough electrical activity to ignite gas in an enclosed space.
- Get everyone out, including pets. Move quickly but calmly. Leave doors open as you go to allow some ventilation, but don’t waste time opening windows — just get out.
- Leave the door open behind you. Don’t lock up — leave the front door open as you exit.
- Don’t use your car if it’s in an attached garage. The ignition could trigger an explosion if gas has accumulated in the garage. If you must drive, pull the car into the street and move away from the house before calling.
- Call 911 and Atlanta Gas Light from outside. Atlanta Gas Light’s emergency line is 1-800-427-2427. They have 24/7 emergency response and will send a technician to your home at no charge to assess the situation.
- Don’t re-enter until cleared by emergency responders. This is not the time to go back in for your phone, your wallet, or your dog. Wait until you’ve been told it’s safe.
Should You Try to Find the Leak Yourself?
No. Not while you’re smelling gas. The safest move is to leave and let trained professionals locate it. Once the gas is shut off, ventilated, and the situation is stabilized, a licensed plumber can perform a pressure test and leak detection to identify the source.
What Causes Residential Gas Leaks?
Most residential gas leaks in Atlanta come from a handful of sources:
- Flexible gas connectors: The corrugated metal connectors behind gas appliances (stoves, dryers, water heaters) have a finite lifespan. Older uncoated brass connectors are particularly prone to failure and have been prohibited by most Atlanta-area codes for years. If you have an older home and have never replaced the connectors behind your appliances, they’re worth inspecting.
- Gas line joints: Threaded connections in the supply line can develop leaks from corrosion, improper installation, or ground movement. This is more common in older Atlanta homes with original gas piping.
- Appliance shutoff valves: The individual shutoff valves near each gas appliance can develop leaks at the valve stem or body over time, particularly older ball valves and gate valves.
- Exterior line damage: Underground gas service lines can be damaged by tree roots, ground movement, or accidental digging — a concern in any neighborhood with mature trees or recent excavation.
After the Emergency: Getting Back to Normal
Once Atlanta Gas Light clears the premises and shuts the supply at the meter, they won’t restore gas service until a licensed plumber repairs the leak and the system passes a pressure test. In many jurisdictions, a permit and inspection are required before gas is restored.
Fix and Flow handles emergency gas line repairs throughout Atlanta. We’re licensed for gas line work in Georgia and can perform the repair, pressure test, and coordinate the permit process to get your gas restored as quickly as possible. Visit our gas leak repair page or call (404) 800-FLOW.
What If You Smell Gas Outside?
A gas smell outside — near the meter, along the driveway, or in the yard — is also a call-it-in situation. Call Atlanta Gas Light’s emergency line from a safe distance. Exterior line leaks are their responsibility to locate and repair up to the meter; from the meter to the house is the homeowner’s responsibility.
Prevention: Annual Gas Line Inspection
The best gas leak is one that never happens. Including a gas line check as part of your annual plumbing inspection is straightforward — a plumber can visually inspect all visible gas connections, check flexible connectors for age and condition, and use a gas detector to screen for small leaks before they become emergencies. It takes fifteen minutes and costs nothing extra when bundled with a standard inspection. See our plumbing inspections page for what’s included.