Quick answer
If you smell gas at home, leave right away and get everyone out. Don't turn lights or appliances on or off, light anything, or use your phone inside. Once you're outside and away from the house, call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 or 911. Don't go back in until you're told it's safe.
Natural gas has no smell of its own. Gas companies add an odor, often described as rotten eggs or sulfur, so you can notice a leak. If you smell it inside your home, treat it as an emergency. Don't stop to look for the cause.
Step 1: Get everyone out
Leave right away. SoCalGas's first instruction is to evacuate the area, then call from a safe place. Don't stay to look for the leak or gather belongings. Move well away from the house, and keep others from going in.
Step 2: Don't create a spark or flame
Gas can catch fire from a small spark. On your way out:
- Don't smoke or light a match, lighter, candle, or stove.
- Don't turn lights or appliances on or off. Leave switches exactly as they are.
- Don't use your phone until you're outside and away from the house.
- Don't use the garage door opener or start a car in or near the garage.
- Don't try to find or fix the leak. That includes the meter, a pipe, or an appliance connection.
Step 3: Call from a safe place
Once you're away from the house, call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200. The line is open 24/7. SoCalGas says to call 911 if a leak may put lives or property in danger, or if you can't reach SoCalGas for any reason.
Not every home in our area gets gas from SoCalGas. If your bill comes from Southwest Gas, which serves areas including Victorville, Barstow, and Big Bear, call 911 and then Southwest Gas at 1-877-860-6020. When in doubt, call 911.
Step 4: Wait for the all-clear
Stay outside until the gas company or fire department tells you it's safe. The crew will check for gas and find the source. If the leak is in your home's piping or an appliance, they may shut off the gas to that appliance or to the whole house until it's repaired.
If the gas is shut off at the meter, don't turn it back on yourself. SoCalGas says customers should never try to restore service on their own. Lines and appliances need to be checked, and pilot lights relit, before gas can flow safely again.
Should I shut off the gas at the meter?
Getting out and calling comes first. SoCalGas advises turning off the gas at the meter only if you smell gas, hear it escaping, or see other signs of a leak, and only if it's safe to do so. Don't shut it off "just in case." Once it's off, you'll need the gas company to turn it back on, and after a major emergency that can take days.
If you do need to shut it off, the valve is on the pipe coming up from the ground to the meter. Use a 12-inch or larger adjustable wrench to turn it a quarter turn so the tab runs crosswise to the pipe. Keep a wrench near the meter or your exit, but don't store it on the meter or gas pipe.
Signs of a gas leak
Smell is the most common clue, but it's not the only one. SoCalGas lists these signs:
- Smell: the strong odor added to natural gas.
- Sound: a hissing or whistling noise near a gas line, meter, or appliance.
- Sight: a damaged connection to a gas appliance, dirt or water blowing into the air, a dry patch of grass over a buried line, or fire near a pipeline.
Don't rely on your nose alone. Some people can't smell the odor well, and a cold, some medications, or other strong smells can hide it.
Gas leak vs carbon monoxide: not the same thing
People often mix these up, but they are different dangers and need different responses.
| Compare | Natural gas leak | Carbon monoxide (CO) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Fuel gas escaping from a pipe, meter, or appliance | A poison gas made when fuel burns without enough air |
| Can you smell it? | Yes, because an odor is added | No. You can't smell, see, or taste it. |
| Main danger | Fire or explosion | Poisoning, which can be deadly |
| Warning signs | Rotten-egg smell, hissing sound | CO alarm going off, or flu-like symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, tiredness, or confusion |
| What to do | Leave, then call SoCalGas or 911 from outside | Get everyone into fresh air. Call 911 if anyone has symptoms. Have the appliance checked before using it again. |
California's Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010 requires CO alarms in homes with a gas or other fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage. SoCalGas says you need one for each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Test them regularly and replace them as the maker recommends. A yellow, large, or unsteady flame on a gas burner can also be a sign of a CO problem, except on decorative gas logs.
After the gas company makes it safe: getting repairs
SoCalGas maintains the gas lines up to your meter. The piping from the meter to your appliances belongs to the property owner. If the leak is on your side of the meter, such as a corroded pipe, a loose fitting, or a worn appliance connector, a licensed contractor needs to repair it.
Gas line repairs should be done by a licensed pro and pressure tested before the gas is turned back on. Many also need a permit. Our gas line services team handles gas leak detection and repair, pressure testing, and code-compliant permitting. First Call Plumbing & Restoration is licensed by the CSLB (Lic. #798425), and you'll get up-front pricing approved before any work begins. Once the repair passes, the gas company can restore service and relight pilots if they shut the gas off.
If the leak came from a water heater, see our guide on what to do when a water heater is leaking for repair and replacement options.
Earthquake gas shut-off valves
An earthquake shut-off valve closes automatically and stops gas flow when strong shaking hits. Some California cities require them in certain situations, and some insurance companies ask for them. Rules vary by city, so check with your local building department before you buy one.
These valves go on your side of the meter and are installed by a licensed contractor. SoCalGas doesn't install them and doesn't allow them on its own equipment. If one closes, SoCalGas recommends having the utility or a qualified professional reset it, check appliances for leaks, and relight pilots.
After an earthquake, SoCalGas advises leaving the gas on unless you smell, hear, or see signs of a leak. If a fire or explosion damaged your home, our guide on what to do after a house fire covers the next steps.
Simple ways to lower your risk
- Have gas appliances checked once a year, as SoCalGas recommends.
- Make sure you have working CO alarms near bedrooms and on every level.
- Know where your gas meter is and keep the right wrench nearby.
- Call 811 before you dig in your yard so buried lines can be marked. The service is free.
- Use a licensed pro for any gas line or appliance hookup.
Smell gas? Call SoCalGas or 911 first, from outside. Once the gas company has made it safe, call First Call Plumbing & Restoration 24/7 at (909) 751-2323 or contact us to repair the line and get your appliances back in service. More answers are on our FAQ page.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I smell gas in my house?+
Leave right away and take everyone with you. Don't turn lights or appliances on or off, light anything, or use your phone inside. Once you're outside and away from the house, call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 or 911. Don't go back in until you're told it's safe.
Can I call the gas company from inside my house?+
No. Leave first, then call from outside and away from the house. A phone or any electrical device can make a small spark, and SoCalGas says to call from a safe location.
Is carbon monoxide the same as a gas leak?+
No. A natural gas leak has an added rotten-egg smell and the main danger is fire. Carbon monoxide has no smell, color, or taste and can poison you. It's made when fuel burns without enough air. A working CO alarm is the best way to detect it at home.
Who fixes a gas leak, the gas company or a plumber?+
Call the gas company first. SoCalGas maintains lines up to the meter and will make the situation safe. Piping from the meter to your appliances belongs to the property owner, so a licensed contractor repairs leaks on that side. The gas company can then restore service.
Should I turn off my gas after an earthquake?+
Only if you smell gas, hear it escaping, or see other signs of a leak, and only if it's safe. SoCalGas advises against shutting it off otherwise, because once it's off, you'll need the gas company to turn it back on, and that can take days after a major quake.
This guide is general information, not a quote or professional advice for your specific home or insurance policy. Prices are approximate - we give an up-front quote before any work begins.
