Natural Gas Leaks
Report a Natural Gas Leak
If you suspect a natural gas leak, evacuate the area immediately and call us from a safe location: 1-800-427-2200.
Call 911 promptly, from a safe location, if there is damage resulting in a natural gas leak that may endanger life, cause bodily harm, cause property damage, and/or if you are unable to contact SoCalGas for any reason.
Recognize a Natural Gas Leak
Be aware of signs you may see, hear or smell when there is a leak.
Look
If you see a damaged connection to a natural gas appliance, dirt/water blowing into the air, a dry patch of grass, fire or an explosion near a pipeline.
Listen
If you hear unusual sounds like hissing or whistling.
Smell
If you smell the distinctive odor[1] of natural gas.
[1] Some persons may not be able to smell the odor because they have a diminished sense of smell due to a respiratory illness or another physical condition, olfactory fatigue (normal, temporary inability to distinguish an odor after prolonged exposure to it), or because the odor is being hidden by other odors present. In addition, certain pipeline and soil conditions can cause odor fade (the loss of odorant so that it is not detectable by smell).
Don’t Rely on Just Your Nose
Although a distinctive odor is added to make natural gas easy to recognize, you may not be able to smell leaking gas if:
- You have a diminished sense of smell
- You’re experiencing odor fatigue (normal, temporary inability to distinguish an odor after prolonged exposure to it)
- You have a physical condition such as a common cold, sinus condition or allergies
- You use tobacco, alcohol, drugs and certain medications
- The odor is masked or hidden by other odors that are present
- Pipe and soil conditions have caused odor fade (see below)
Odor Fade
Sometimes physical and/or chemical processes can cause a loss of odorant in natural gas, making it undetectable by smell. Odor fade can be caused by adsorption, absorption, oxidation or any combination thereof.
Odor fade is more likely to occur in the following situations:
- In new, steel pipe that has been recently manufactured or hasn’t been used for odorized natural gas before
- In natural gas piping systems using higher gas pressure, and when natural gas flow is limited or intermittent
- In the presence of rust, mill scale, moisture, air, cutting oil, pipe thread compound, liquids, condensates and other substances
- The design and construction of the customer’s gas piping systems, such as, pipe length and/or diameters
Because of the possibility of odor fade, it's important to not rely only on your sense of smell to be alerted to a natural gas leak. For a printable copy about odor fade and safe purging practices, see our Safety Bulletin.
If you have additional questions or concerns regarding pipe conditioning or odor fade, call us at 1-800-427-2200 or contact a licensed, qualified professional.
A respiratory illness or another physical condition may cause a temporary loss of smell that could make it more difficult to detect the odorant that is added to natural gas to help make leaks easier to detect.
What to Do if You Suspect a Natural Gas Leak
If you smell a natural gas odor, hear the hissing sound of gas escaping or see other signs of a leak:
Immediately Evacuate the Area.
- Call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 from a safe location.
- Call 911 promptly, from a safe location, if there is damage resulting in a natural gas leak that may endanger life, cause bodily harm or property damage.
- DO NOT smoke or light a match, candle or create any other flame.
- DO NOT turn electrical appliances or lights on or off, operate motorized equipment or vehicles, or use any device that could cause a spark.
- DO NOT attempt to control the leak or repair a damaged pipe or meter. Natural gas leaking from a plastic pipe can create static electricity that can ignite the natural gas.
Protect Yourself and Those Around You
Contact Underground Service Alert at 811, at no cost.
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