What to Do If You Smell Gas: A Safety Checklist
If you smell gas in your home, treat it as an emergency every single time. Evacuate the building immediately, avoid all electrical switches and open flames, and call 911 and your gas provider from outside. Do not re-enter until emergency personnel have declared it safe. After clearance, call Covington Heat & Air at (405) 568-9463 — our licensed technicians can inspect and repair your heating system once the area is confirmed safe
Immediate Actions — Do These in Order
Do not take time to investigate. Do not try to find the source. Do not turn any electrical devices on or off — even a light switch can generate a spark. Follow these steps immediately:
- 1. Evacuate everyone from the building — leave doors open as you go to improve ventilation
- 2. Do NOT use electrical switches, flashlights, or any device that could produce a spark
- 3. Do NOT use your cell phone inside the home — wait until you are outside
- 4. Leave the building and move far away — at least 100 feet
- 5. Call 911 from outside or a neighbor’s phone
- 6. Call your gas provider’s emergency line (Oklahoma Natural Gas: 1-800-664-5463 or OGE/other providers — number is on your bill)
- 7. Do NOT re-enter until emergency personnel declare it safe
- 8. After clearance, call Covington Heat & Air at (405) 568-9463 for a professional heating system inspection
What Does a Gas Leak Smell Like?
Natural gas is odorless in its natural state. Gas companies add a chemical called mercaptan — which smells like rotten eggs or sulfur — specifically so leaks can be detected. If you smell this odor anywhere near your furnace, gas lines, stove, or water heater, take it seriously. Even a faint smell warrants the full evacuation protocol.
Signs of a Gas Leak Beyond Smell
Sometimes you can detect a gas issue before you smell it:
- A hissing or whistling sound near gas appliances or lines
- Dead or dying vegetation in an unusual pattern around exterior gas lines
- Bubbles forming in water near your foundation or yard
- Your gas appliances have started behaving erratically or shutting off unexpectedly
- Occupants experiencing unexplained headaches, dizziness, or nausea — these can be early CO or gas exposure symptoms
After the Emergency: What Covington Heat & Air Does
Once emergency services have cleared your home, a licensed HVAC technician needs to inspect your entire heating system before you use it again. Henry Covington’s team performs a complete safety inspection — checking gas connections, burner assembly, heat exchanger integrity, and all safety controls. We also test for CO levels if there’s any concern.
Oklahoma homes deal with aging gas appliances, temperature-stressed connections, and occasional contractor errors from past work. Annual inspections are the best way to prevent a gas emergency before it happens.
Your Next Steps After the Emergency Is Resolved
- Schedule a professional heating system inspection before using the furnace again
- Install carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home if you haven’t already
- Ask your HVAC technician to check all gas connections during the inspection
- Review your annual maintenance schedule — prevention is always cheaper than emergencies
After emergency services have cleared your home, call Henry and the Covington Heat & Air team at (405) 568-9463. We serve Piedmont and the full OKC metro and can typically dispatch the same day for post-emergency inspections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a gas leak smell like?
Gas companies add a sulfur-like compound (mercaptan) to natural gas so it smells like rotten eggs. Even a faint version of this smell near your furnace, stove, or gas lines should trigger the full evacuation protocol — don’t try to investigate the source yourself.
How can I tell if there’s a gas leak without smelling it?
Listen for hissing sounds near gas appliances or lines. Look for unusual dead vegetation patterns near outdoor gas lines, or bubbles in water near your foundation. Unexplained headaches, dizziness, or nausea in household members can also indicate gas or CO exposure.
Is it safe to turn off the gas supply valve yourself?
Only if you know where your main shut-off is located and you can reach it safely without entering areas where gas odor is strong. If in doubt, evacuate first and let emergency personnel handle the shut-off.
What should I do after evacuating?
Move at least 100 feet from the building and call 911 from your cell phone or a neighbor’s. Also call your gas provider’s emergency line. Do not re-enter for any reason until emergency personnel give the all-clear.
Can I fix a gas leak myself?
Never. Gas line repairs and furnace gas connection work must be performed by a licensed professional. Attempting DIY repairs on gas systems is illegal in most jurisdictions and extremely dangerous.
How often should I have my furnace inspected for gas safety?
Annual inspections are the industry standard and strongly recommended for Oklahoma homes. Schedule a pre-winter tune-up — Covington Heat & Air inspects all gas connections, burner assembly, and safety controls during a standard tune-up.
Do gas leaks happen more often in Oklahoma than other states?
Oklahoma’s temperature extremes — both summer heat and winter cold — can stress gas line connections over time. Thermal expansion and contraction over many years can loosen fittings. This makes annual inspection especially important for Piedmont-area homeowners.