Act now
Leave now: possible gas leak
A gas smell, or hissing near a gas line or the burner area, is treated as a possible gas leak. Get everyone out first, then call 911 and your gas utility from outside.
Why this happens
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission says to leave your home or building immediately if you smell gas, and not to turn lights on or off or make calls from inside. Atmos Energy says not to rely on your sense of smell alone, and to use sight and hearing too, because the odor can be masked or your nose can get used to it. Rheem says hissing from a gas heater can come from water dripping onto a hot burner, but you cannot tell that from across the room, so this page treats hissing near a gas line or the burner as a possible gas leak. The popping or rumbling can wait.
Do this now
- Get everyone out of the house now, including pets.
- Do not turn lights or other switches on or off, do not make calls while inside, and do not do anything that could cause a spark. The Pennsylvania PUC says to leave windows and doors open as you exit so the gas can vent outside.
- From a safe distance outside, call 911 and your gas utility.
- If a carbon monoxide alarm is sounding, or anyone feels dizzy, sick or has a headache, say so when you call 911.
- Do not go back in to look for the source, switch the heater off, or relight anything. Stay out until emergency or utility personnel tell you it is safe.
- After they clear the home, have a licensed plumber or your gas utility check the water heater before you use it.
When to stop. Any gas smell, or hissing near a gas line or the burner, at any point means leave and call from outside.
What to tell the plumber
- You smelled gas or heard hissing near the water heater, where it was strongest and when you noticed it.
- That the heater was also popping, rumbling or making another noise, and since when.
- Whether anyone worked on the heater or a gas line recently.
- The heater's make, model and age from the data plate.
Build the full list: what to tell the plumber.
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