If you smell gas or suspect an active gas leak: leave the area immediately. Do not operate switches, phones, appliances, vehicles, or anything that could create a spark near the suspected leak. From a safe location, for natural gas, call the gas utility or 911; for propane, call your supplier, or 911 if unreachable. Schedule repair service only after the immediate emergency has been addressed. Gas Safety & Emergency Guide.
Gas leak testing
Leak evaluation may involve visual inspection, approved leak-detection methods, electronic gas detection, bubble testing at accessible joints or a piping pressure test depending on the situation and service scope.
Common customer-owned piping problems
- Gas valve leaking.
- Gas connector leaking.
- Rusted or corroded gas pipe.
- Damaged gas line after construction.
- Underground gas line damaged.
- Gas pressure test failed.
- Gas shutoff valve stuck or missing.
Gas utility or propane supplier involvement
Utility service lines, meters, propane tank work and provider-owned regulators are not the same as customer-owned downstream piping. The appropriate gas utility or propane supplier should handle the provider-owned side.
Post-repair verification
After repair, the applicable system check, pressure test or leak verification should match the work performed and the authority or provider requirements involved.