What To Do if There Is a Gas Leak in Your Home

8/31/2022 (Permalink)

In the event of a gas leak, it's important to know where your gas meter is located.

What to Do if Your Home Has a Gas Leak

Smelling gas within your home can be disastrous if you don't know how to react. Here are five tips to help minimize the risk of a gas fire sparking in your Bayport, MN, home.

1. Check the Stove
For homes with a gas-burning stove, this is often the culprit of a gas scent wafting. If you are not actively cooking but smell gas, check the stove to make sure a burner wasn't left on. Always be mindful of shutting the stove off after cooking, as combustion is always possible and creates destruction only fire damage restoration professionals can repair.

2. Keep Lights Off
Do not turn on any lights in the home if you suspect a gas leak. They could cause a spark that could lead to a gas explosion in severe cases. If you need light, use a flashlight instead.

3. Open Doors and Windows in the House
Proper airflow and ventilation are important in reducing the risk of a gas fire. Therefore, if you smell gas, create more circulation for it to flow rather than be contained in one space. Opening up the doors and windows of your home promotes gas movement rather than collection.

4. Shutoff Gas Meter
In the event of a gas leak, it's important to know where your gas meter is located and how to shut it off. This will stop the flow of gas and can prove critical for keeping you and your family safe from harm.

5. Evacuate Home Upon Smelling Natural Gas
The best way to ensure safety from a potential gas fire is to evacuate your home if gas odors are present. Make sure everyone in the household is accounted for and gather a safe distance away from the house in case an explosion occurs.
If you smell gas within your home, act accordingly. Check your stovetop, keep lights off, open windows, turn off the gas meter and evacuate for your safety.