The short answer
Natural gas has no smell of its own. Utilities add a chemical that smells like rotten eggs or sulfur so you can tell when something is wrong. If you smell it in your home, treat it as an emergency.
What to do right now
- Get everyone out, including pets. Leave the door open behind you.
- Don't create a spark. Leave light switches, appliances, thermostats and the garage door opener alone. Don't light a match or a lighter.
- Don't use your phone inside. Call once you're outside and well away from the house.
- Call 911 and your gas utility's emergency line from outside. Lynnfield is served by National Grid, whose 24/7 gas emergency line is 1-800-233-5325.
- Stay out until the fire department or the utility tells you it's safe.
Signs of a gas leak besides the smell
- A hissing or whistling sound near a gas line or appliance
- Dead or dying plants over a buried gas line
- Bubbles in standing water outside
- Headaches, dizziness or nausea that go away when you leave the house
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After the emergency: fixing the leak
Once the house is safe, the utility usually shuts off or caps the gas, and a licensed gas fitter has to find and repair the leak before service is restored. In Massachusetts, gas work must be done by a licensed gas fitter. Precision Plumbing Solutions handles gas line repair and replacement across Lynnfield and the North Shore, including leak tracing, pressure testing and appliance connections.
How to lower your risk
- Have older gas lines and appliance connectors checked, especially in older homes.
- Install a natural gas detector along with your CO detectors.
- Never hang anything from exposed gas piping.
Need a gas line checked?
If the utility has shut off your gas or you want an inspection, call Precision Plumbing Solutions 24/7. Call (978) 317-1244.
