Gibson County Utility District - We Are Your Gas Company

Gas Safety

If you smell a faint odor of gas, a rotten egg smell, look for a pilot light that's out. If you see one, turn the appliance off and open the window - top and bottom - to let gas escape. Wait five minutes before relighting the pilot.

Don't turn electrical switches on or off, or use a flashlight or telephone, because an electrical spark could ignite the gas and cause an explosion.

If you still smell gas around the appliance after turning it off and ventilating the room, do not relight it. Call your gas company for help.

If the gas odor is strong and you think there is a leak, leave immediately. Go to a neighbor's home and phone your gas company. Do not return to your house until it is safe.

To prevent accidents:

Follow manufacturer's instructions with all appliances.

Have your appliances installed, serviced and repaired by professionals.

Keep chimney flues and vents for appliances clean and in good condition.

Keep areas around your gas water heater and furnace clean and free of flammables. (Ex: Do not store gasoline cans nearby, fumes from cans could ignite by pilot light.)

Teach family members what to do if they smell gas.

Every family member should know where the shut- off valve is at the meter. This valve should be closed only in the event of a gas emergency in your home.

Let everyone in your family smell natural gas by briefly turning on an unlit burner then turning it completely off. Tell them that this is the warning smell of a GAS LEAK

Teach small children to stay away from the gas range and all gas-burning appliances. Don't let children swing from or play with pipes leading to water heaters or ranges.

Practice safety drills for getting the family out of the house at night in case of a gas emergency.

Flammable (Explosive ) Range: The range of natural gas or vapor concentration that will burn or explode if an ignition source is introduced. Limiting concentrations are commonly called the "Lower Explosive or Flammable Limit" (LEL/LFL) and the "Upper Explosive or Flammable Limit" (UEL/UFL). Below the Lower Explosive or Flammable Limit the mixture is too lean to burn and above the Upper Explosive or Flammable Limit is too rich to burn. The optimal point is at 10% natural gas in air mixture. At this point all conditions are at the highest point for burning or exploding.