What to Do If You Smell Gas

• Open windows to ventilate the home.
• Do not attempt to locate gas leaks with matches or other open flames.
• Do not attempt to operate electrical switches or use telephones in the presence of a strong odour; to report a gas leak, use the next nearest phone away from the odour, go outside your home and call IRM emergency contact number on 1800-891-1310.
• Keep curtains, papers, fluids and other flammable materials away from open gas flames.
• Never try to repair a natural gas leak yourself.
• Close the gas isolation valve
• Do not start any motor vehicles, and do not use lighters or matches or smoke near a natural gas leak.

How to Detect Gas Leaks

Smell

Naturally, gas is odourless. To help customers detect leaks, a special odorant is added to the gas so that even small leaks can be detected quickly.

Sound

An unusual noise from your appliance, or a hissing sound from piping or connections may also indicate a gas leak.

Sight

A gas leak may also be detected by unusual flame behaviour at an appliance burner. On the outside of the appliance, black or brown scorched areas. Although rare, a fire in or near a gas appliance or piping are also signs of a leak. Fire near pipeline, a white cloud or fog, dying plants in a pattern amid healthy ones, persistent bubbles in water.

Usage

A sudden increase in your gas consumption may indicate a leak in your gas appliances or piping. Check your gas bill and see if it is higher than normal.

Reasons for Gas Leaks

• A gas appliance is improperly connected.
• A gas appliance is improperly operated.
• Gas lines are damaged by excavation, corrosion, or stress caused by improperly moving an appliance.
• Improper gas pipe materials.