What To Do When You Smell Gas In Your Home

Smelling gas inside your home can be a terrifying experience. And one you might not know how to handle. Unfortunately, figuring out the source of the issue can be rather tricky. 

One of the most common sources of gas smell can be your gas-powered furnace or heat pump. At Fire & Ice, we’ve helped numerous customers who have had this issue inside their homes and can answer any questions you might have.

If you smell gas, the first instinct you might have is to panic, which is never a good idea in any potential emergency. So what can you do? Here are steps you can take right now if your home smells like gas.

What Should You Do If You Smell Gas in Your Home?

If you smell rotten eggs or hear hissing near a gas line or appliance, leave right away. Don’t stop to find the source.

1. Put out any materials that can create a flame or spark. Leave light switches, appliances, phones, flashlights, and the garage door alone. Don’t start your car if it’s in an attached garage.
2. Get to a safe location far from your home.
3. Once you’re well away from the house, call 9-1-1 and your gas company’s emergency number and have someone sent out to determine whether there is a leak.
4. DO NOT return to your home until a gas company professional arrives and has checked the site and deemed it safe to return.

Once you are safe and it is determined that your home does not have a leak, several potential causes of the gas you were smelling could be identified.

What Causes a Gas Smell in Your House? 

The smell of gas could be coming from several sources, such as:

• A cracked furnace heat exchanger
• Gas line damage
• Sulfur
• Bacteria in your hot water tank
• A sewage drain erupted near your home

Cracked Furnace Heat Exchanger

A heat exchanger is a thin metal shield between the combustion chamber and the blower that transfers heat from the furnace to the air ducts and then through your home. 

If this becomes cracked, it can be hazardous and cause gas and, worse, carbon monoxide to leak through your vents. This can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

Noticeable cracks upon inspection, worn areas, strange smells, or water collecting around the furnace can all be signs of a cracked furnace heat exchanger. 

If you have any of these, turn off your furnace and call a technician to prevent CO and gas from leaking into your home.

Gas Line Damage

The smell could also be caused by a gas line that is damaged outside your home. Your gas company should be responsible for this and inform you about any repairs.

Bacteria Smell from Drains and Sewer Systems

One often-overlooked source of a "gas-like" smell that can come from your home is bacteria inside your sink or sewer system. 

It has a similar smell to the sulfur that is added to gas to give it an odor but is obviously less dangerous. If this is happening in your home, clean your sink with vinegar and baking soda. If the issue persists, contact a plumbing professional to get the issue resolved.

Gas Smell vs. Carbon Monoxide: What’s the Difference?

The most significant risk with a gas leak is carbon monoxide poisoning. 

Carbon monoxide is a gas that is formed from the incomplete combustion of carbon. It is lighter than air and is released naturally during certain events in nature, such as a forest fire; it can also be released through processes that we as humans have created. 

Fumes from small engines, such as lawn mowers, cars, gas stoves, fireplaces, and furnaces, all cause carbon monoxide release. 

This gas is odorless, tasteless, and invisible, giving it the name the “silent killer.” Exposure to this gas can be toxic and even deadly. 

Each year, carbon monoxide poisoning kills more than 400 people nationally, according to the CDC. Approximately 100,000 people go to emergency rooms each year for accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

What Are the Signs of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

The most important signal of carbon monoxide poisoning is your body. If you educate yourself about the symptoms, they can be used as a guideline. 

According to the CDC, when you breathe in carbon monoxide, it displaces the oxygen in your blood. As the oxygen levels get dangerously low, there is damage to muscles, organs, and the brain.

Common symptoms include:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Physical weakness
• Chest pain
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness

If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning in someone else, move the victim into the fresh air and immediately call 9-1-1.

How to Protect Your Home from Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) leaks can result from a malfunctioning furnace, a cracked heat exchanger, blocked venting, or other combustion-related issues. Because carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, homeowners often have no warning that a dangerous leak exists. That's why regular furnace maintenance and professional safety inspections are so important.

At Fire & Ice, every furnace safety inspection includes a carbon monoxide test using specialized equipment designed to detect unsafe CO levels and verify that your heating system is operating safely. This additional testing goes beyond what many HVAC companies include in a standard maintenance visit and provides homeowners with added peace of mind.

In addition to professional inspections, Fire & Ice recommends scheduling annual furnace tune-ups to identify potential problems before they become safety hazards or costly repairs. 

Regular maintenance not only helps protect your family from carbon monoxide risks but also improves system efficiency, extends the life of your equipment, and helps ensure reliable performance throughout the heating season.

For added protection, every home with fuel-burning appliances should also have working carbon monoxide detectors installed on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Together, annual maintenance and properly functioning CO detectors provide the best defense against carbon monoxide exposure.

Warning Signs of a Gas Leak: Smells, Sounds, and Sights

Remember to pay attention to the signs that a gas leak may be occurring in your home; these include:

• A “rotten eggs” smell from the sulfur that is added to gas to create an odor.
• Any signs of the destruction of soil or plant life from gas escaping.
• A sharp hissing sound that could signal gas is escaping from a pipe.

If you notice any of these signs and symptoms and can’t relate it to another issue, follow the steps mentioned earlier on what to do if you smell gas inside your home. Taking action could save your life and the life of your family from carbon monoxide poisoning, a potential fire, or an explosion.

How Annual Maintenance Prevents Gas and CO Problems

Even if your gas leak isn't the result of a cracked heat exchanger or another issue with your gas-powered furnace or heat pump, it definitely could be, and it's an excellent reason to get maintenance on your system. Just like tune-ups and oil changes for your car, your HVAC system deserves the same level of care.

That’s why at Fire & Ice, we recommend a maintenance agreement to all our customers to help them make timely appointments and get ahead of issues before they become a hazard. This is called the Happy Home Membership. 

Below, we talk about a few essential aspects of the plans and why they exemplify the desirable traits you want in a maintenance plan.

Priority Service Scheduling

All our maintenance agreement customers get access to priority service when placing a call for tune-ups or service. Depending on your level, you can select which technician you have or pick a time on a Saturday.

Free Annual HVAC Check

Every year, a technician inspects your entire system for free. That’s your chance to catch a cracked heat exchanger, a failing part, or a carbon monoxide risk before it becomes an emergency, or before your furnace quits on the coldest night of the year.

Cost Savings

Filter changes, blower and evaporator cleanings, and tune-ups add up fast. Happy Home Club members get them on schedule at a lower price, plus member discounts on repairs:

• 20% off HVAC repairs
• 10% off plumbing repairs and installs
• 10% off electrical repairs and installs

Frequently Asked Questions About Gas Smell

Should I Open Windows If I Smell Gas?

No. Leave your home immediately instead. Opening windows wastes time, and flipping switches or using your phone inside can create a spark. Once you’re outside and a safe distance away, call 9-1-1 and your local gas emergency number.

Can a Furnace Leak Carbon Monoxide?

Yes. A cracked heat exchanger, blocked flue, or poorly burning furnace can send carbon monoxide into your home. You can’t see or smell it, so install CO detectors on every level and have your furnace inspected every year. Fire & Ice includes a carbon monoxide test with every furnace safety inspection.

Is a Faint Gas Smell Near My Stove Normal?

A brief whiff when a burner lights can be normal. A smell that lingers, a burner that clicks without lighting, or an odor when the stove is off is not. In those cases, treat it as a leak: leave your home and call 9-1-1 and your local gas emergency number from outside.

Don’t Wait to Prevent Emergencies

Staying on top of preventative maintenance within your home, even when it can lead to significant issues, can be tricky. Give us a call if you have any additional questions. 

If you live in the Columbus, Ohio area, check if we service your area using the zip code map below.