I smell gas in the house
If you smell gas, leave the building immediately. Do not operate light switches, garage doors, or phones inside. Once outside and clear, call 911 or your gas utility's emergency line. They respond to suspected leaks and make the site safe. A plumber is who you call afterwards for the repair.
Do this first
- Leave the building now. Take everyone with you.
- Do not touch light switches, appliances, garage door openers, or phones while inside.
- Once you are outside and well clear, call 911 or your gas utility's emergency number.
- Wait for them. Do not go back in to check anything, and call us afterwards for the repair.
What it usually is
- A loose or failed appliance connectionThe most common source, and often at a flexible connector behind a range or dryer.
- Corroded exterior gas pipingBlack iron at the point it enters the house is a frequent failure spot.
- Damage from diggingFence posts, tree planting, and irrigation trenching hit gas lines regularly.
- A pilot out on an applianceSometimes the smell is unburnt gas from an appliance rather than a piping leak.
When to call, and when it can wait
If you do need us
The utility goes first
We will say this on the phone. They secure the site; we do not substitute for that.
We pressure test the system
Once it is safe, we test the customer-side piping to confirm and isolate the leak.
Repair under permit
The failed section replaced, permitted and inspected where required.
Re-test before restoring
System tested again before service comes back on.
Houston note
In the Houston area your gas utility's emergency line is the number to have saved before you need it. Putting it in your phone now, alongside knowing where your water shutoff is, takes two minutes and is the most useful preparation a homeowner can do.
Related problems
What moves the price
- LOCATIONExposed exterior piping versus a concealed or buried run.
- EXTENTOne connector versus a length of failed pipe.
- PERMITFiling and inspection for the corrective work.
Questions about this
Why can I not just call you first?
Because the gas utility responds to suspected leaks around the clock and can make the site safe in a way a plumbing contractor cannot. Calling us first adds delay to the part that actually protects you. Call them, then call us.
Can I check for the leak myself with soapy water?
Not while you can smell gas indoors. That test is something done by a professional on a system that has already been made safe. Leave the building first.
Before digging in the yard, what should I do?
Call 811 for a free utility locate. It is a legal requirement in Texas and it is free. A surprising share of the damaged gas line calls we hear about started with a fence post.
Not sure how urgent it is?
Describe what is happening and we will tell you straight: call an emergency out now, book it for today, or leave it until the week.