What does natural gas smell like

For more severe leaks, leave the property immediately before contacting the appropriate authorities. To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews thisoldhousereviews. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.

Pinterest Email Pocket Flipboard. Thanks for signing up! Check your inbox for a welcome email. However, gas producers add the agent ethyl mercaptan to the gas mixture for safety purposes. This provides a recognizable scent, which will be familiar to anyone who has ever used a gas cylinder BBQ. Fluorine is an elemental gas in the halogen family, and its atoms bond together to form the molecule F2. This is a highly poisonous gas and very dangerous to humans, animals, and to the surrounding environment.

As such, it should be handled very carefully. The odor of fluorine is reported as being similar to that of hypochlorous acid — in other words, similar to the smell you might experience when visiting a chlorinated pool or when using a bleach-based cleaning product. Heading from fluorine, directly downwards in the halogen column of the periodic table, we immediately arrive at chlorine. But it shares many of the properties of its fellow halogen gas. These properties include being highly poisonous, which means chlorine gas should also be handled with great care.

A strong smell of bleach, or a strong odor similar to that of a highly chlorinated pool, could be an indicator that a gas leak is taking place. It may also be accompanied by a greenish-yellow color, visible to the naked eye in some cases. Freon is a brand name for a chemical refrigerant , and there are many different kinds of molecule that can be found in Freon gas. And, if you have heard about the negative aspects of these chemicals, you are certainly not alone.

If you smell or hear escaping gas:. If you hear the sound of escaping gas, follow these steps:. Your local gas company provides hour emergency service every day of the year to provide immediate response to emergencies such as natural gas leaks. There is no charge to stop gas leaks.

NEVER turn the gas back on once it has been shut off due to a safety concern. Call your local gas company for assistance. All repairs to gas lines on your premises must be made in accordance with local regulations, by a licensed plumber where required or by your local gas company. Gas Pipeline Safety. Instead, leave the house or building right away. Do not turn on or off any electrical switches, appliances, or lights, as an electrical charge could create a spark.

When you are in a safe place, call the Peoples emergency hotline. If you smell gas, or if you see or hear any of the warning signs below, leave your house immediately. Do not turn on or off any electrical switches, appliances, or lights, as it could create a spark. Call our emergency number at or dial In some instances, the smell of gas may be present naturally. However, leaks can occur, and we want to make sure they are resolved as quickly as possible.