Step by step
- Get out.Leave doors open as you go if it does not slow you down. Do not stop to look for the source.
- Move away.Go to a spot well away from the house before using a phone.
- Call from outside.Call 911 or SoCalGas and describe where you smelled gas.
- Wait for clearance.Do not go back in until emergency responders or the gas company say it is safe.
- Then arrange repairs.If a leak is found on your side of the meter, a licensed contractor repairs it before service is restored.
Do not
- Do not try to find the leak with a flame.
- Do not operate light switches, garage door openers or appliances.
- Do not start a car in an attached garage.
- Do not try to turn gas back on yourself after it has been shut off.
- Do not rely on this website for help; no one is answering here.
Where gas lines run in a typical house
Gas comes from the SoCalGas meter, usually on the side or front of the house, and runs to appliances such as the water heater, furnace, range and dryer. Each appliance normally has its own shutoff valve on the line feeding it.
Leaks can happen at appliance connectors, valves, fittings or older piping. After any gas emergency, repairs on the house side are done by a qualified, licensed contractor, and the gas company handles its own meter and service line.
Which situation are you in?
- IfYou smell gas strongly or hear hissingThenLeave immediately and call 911 or SoCalGas from outside.
- IfYou smell a faint odor near one applianceThenStill treat it as a gas smell: leave and call from outside.
- IfResponders shut off gas and found a house-side leakThenHave a licensed contractor repair it; the gas company restores service when it is safe.
- IfYou want a new gas line for an applianceThenThat is planned work that usually needs a permit. Check with the city and hire a licensed contractor.
Questions for a gas line contractor afterwards
- What is your CSLB license number and classification?
- What exactly failed, and what will you replace?
- Will you pressure test the line after the repair?
- Is a permit and inspection required, and who arranges it?
Common questions
What does natural gas smell like?
Gas companies add an odorant that smells like rotten eggs or sulfur so leaks can be noticed.
Can I check the leak with soapy water?
If you smell gas, the safe move is to leave and call. Testing is for professionals once responders have made the area safe.
Who turns the gas back on?
After a shutoff, let the gas company or a qualified professional restore service and relight appliances.
General information for Sunny Hills, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.