Why the smell matters

Natural gas has no odor of its own. The utility adds a sulfur-smelling odorant so that even a small leak is noticeable, which is why a leak usually smells like rotten eggs or a struck match. The smell is the warning system, so treat it as real even when it is faint or comes and goes.

Gas that collects indoors can ignite from a very small spark: a light switch, a doorbell, a refrigerator compressor kicking on, a garage door opener. The safest response is the same whether the smell is strong or slight: get people out first and let trained responders decide how serious it is.

What to do, step by step

  1. Leave now.Get everyone out, including pets. If a door or window is right on your way out, open it, but do not go room to room opening things.
  2. Do not create a spark.Leave lights, switches, outlets, thermostats and appliances exactly as they are. Do not light anything, and do not start a car parked in an attached garage.
  3. Get some distance.Move away from the house, toward the street or a neighbor's yard. Keep others from walking toward the building.
  4. Call from outside.Use your cell phone once you are well away, and call 911 or SoCalGas. Describe where the smell is strongest and whether anyone feels ill.
  5. Wait for the all-clear.Stay out until responders tell you it is safe. If they shut off gas to the house or an appliance, it stays off until the leak is repaired.

Do not do any of these while gas may be present

Not sure it is gas?

When in doubt, treat it as gas. A false alarm costs a few minutes; a missed leak can cost far more.

  • IfRotten-egg smell indoors, any strengthThenLeave and call from outside.
  • IfHissing or blowing sound near the meter or an applianceThenLeave and call from outside.
  • IfCarbon monoxide alarm soundingThenLeave, call 911, and do not go back in to silence it.
  • IfSmell only near the outdoor meter, faintThenKeep people away from it and call SoCalGas.
  • IfSmell came from a burner that was left on unlitThenStill leave and call; let responders ventilate and check.

After the call: getting the house back

SoCalGas responds to leak reports and checks the meter and its side of the system. If the leak is on the house side, such as a fitting in the attic or a connector behind the range, they may shut off gas to that appliance or to the whole house and leave it for you to have repaired.

At that point it becomes a plumbing job. A licensed contractor finds and fixes the leak, pressure tests the piping, and coordinates turning the gas back on and relighting pilots. Ask any contractor for their CSLB license number and check it at cslb.ca.gov before they start.

Common questions

Should I open the windows before I leave?

Only if a window or door is directly on your way out. Getting people outside quickly matters more than ventilating.

Can I shut off the gas at the meter myself?

You can if you are sure gas is escaping and you can reach the meter safely. Once it is closed, let SoCalGas turn it back on and relight pilots.

Is it safe to call from my front porch?

Move farther away first, toward the street or a neighbor's property, then call. Distance is the point.

Who pays to fix the leak?

Leaks on the meter and the utility's line are the utility's to handle. Leaks in piping after the meter belong to the property owner, who hires a licensed contractor.

General information for Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.