Safety at Home Begins with Awareness about the Dangers of Natural Gas

To Keep You Safe, Natural Gas Smells Like Rotten Eggs!

Natural gas is an efficient and cost-effective energy source, and that makes it popular for use in many household appliances. In its natural state, natural gas has no odour, so an odourant called mercaptan has been added to it to make leaks easy to detect. The mercaptan adds a “rotten eggs” or sulphur-like smell to the natural gas.

To keep your heating system safe and working efficiently, have a licensed gas technician service your system regularly (once a year is recommended). A properly maintained furnace or boiler system will provide reliable service and use fuel more efficiently saving you money on your gas bill as well as giving you peace of mind.

If you smell gas indoors or outdoors, DO NOT:

• Smoke or use matches or lighters
• Touch or adjust any electrical services, computers, and appliances
• Use your cell phone or telephone near a gas leak
• Start up your motor vehicle or any motorized tools
• Attempt to put out fires yourself if any escaping natural gas is burning

However, if you smell natural gas, here are steps that you SHOULD follow:

Smell Gas Indoors? 

• If you detect a hissing sound, get out of the building immediately, leaving the doors and windows open behind you
• Move a safe distance away from the gas leak and call your gas distribution company’s emergency number

Smell Gas Outdoors?

• Close the doors and windows of all buildings adjacent to gas leak
• Make sure all open flames are immediately put out, such as barbeques, campfires, etc. 
• Call for help — phone the gas company’s emergency number and 911
• Stay a safe distance away from the affected area