+1 408-915-6865
Gas Range Safety: What to Do If You Smell Gas
Natural gas is useful—and dangerous if it escapes. If you catch a whiff of that “rotten‑egg” smell or hear hissing near your range, act fast. This guide explains what to do right now, what not to do, and how to prevent future leaks in San Jose and the Bay Area.
If the odor is strong or you hear hissing: Leave immediately. From a safe location, call 911 and then PG&E at 1‑800‑743‑5000. Do not search for the leak yourself. Do not use anything that can spark.
1) Recognize a leak quickly
- Distinct rotten‑egg odor (added by utilities for safety)
- Hissing near the range, oven, or behind the appliance
- Headache, dizziness, or nausea (leave at once)
- Outdoors: bubbling in puddles, dead vegetation near buried lines
2) What to do immediately
- Alert everyone and leave the area to an upwind location.
- From a safe place, call 911, then PG&E: 1‑800‑743‑5000 (24/7).
- If you know the main gas shut‑off location and it’s safe to reach from outside, you may close it. If unsure, skip this step.
- Wait for emergency responders/utility. Do not re‑enter until they clear the site.
3) What not to do
- Don’t use light switches, appliances, garage door openers, phones, or flashlights inside the building.
- Don’t light matches, candles, or pilot lights. Don’t smoke.
- Don’t try to find or fix the leak yourself.
- Don’t start a car in an attached garage.
- Don’t open/close windows if it delays your exit—leaving is priority.
4) After the scene is declared safe
- Ventilate naturally by opening doors and windows.
- If gas was shut off, have a qualified pro restore service and re‑light pilots as required.
- Schedule a safety inspection of the range, flex connector, shut‑off valve, and regulator.
5) Preventing future leaks (Bay Area checklist)
- Annual inspection of gas ranges and connectors; replace brittle or kinked flex lines.
- Keep the burner caps seated and the flame blue and steady; yellow, lifting, or sooty flames need service.
- Clean spills so they don’t block or extinguish burner flames.
- Ensure a dedicated shut‑off valve is accessible behind/near the range.
- Use a range hood that vents outside; avoid recirculating hoods for heavy cooking.
- Install CO detectors on each floor; test monthly and replace per manufacturer guidance.
- Never heat your home with a gas oven; it risks CO buildup and fire.
6) Landlords, property managers, and remodels
- Verify permits and a gas shut‑off within 6 feet of the appliance (where code requires).
- After moving or replacing a range, pressure‑check and soap‑test connections before use.
- In tight condos, prevent connector kinks when pushing the range back into the alcove.
When to call a professional (even without an active leak)
- You repeatedly smell faint gas near start‑up or after the oven cycles.
- Burners won’t ignite or blow out easily; flames are unstable.
- You see corrosion, damaged connectors, or smell gas only when the oven is on.
Hotline provides same‑day stove & gas range repair with original parts and a written warranty. We service all major brands across San Jose and the Bay Area.
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Service area mention: San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Milpitas, Campbell, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Redwood City, Menlo Park, and nearby cities.
Contact (CTA)
Hotline Appliance Repair – San Jose
📍 665 Nido, Campbell, CA 95008
📞 +1 408-915-6865
📧 hotlineappliancerepair@gmail.com
🕒 Mon–Sun: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Same‑day service • Original parts • Repair & parts warranty
📞 Call Hotline today or schedule your appliance repair online — and keep your kitchen cooking without delays.
