Look, Listen, Smell
Use your senses of sight, hearing and smell, along with any of the following signs, to alert yourself to the presence of a gas leak:
Look
• A damaged connection to a gas appliance
• Dirt or water being blown in the air
• Dead or dying vegetation (in an otherwise moist area) over or near pipeline areas
• A fire or explosion near a pipeline
• Exposed pipeline after an earthquake, fire, flood or other disaster
Listen
• An unusual sound, such as a hissing, whistling or roaring sound near a gas line or appliance.
Smell
• The distinctive odor of natural gas. Please be aware that some people may not be able to smell the odor because they have a diminished sense of smell, olfactory fatigue (normal, temporary inability to distinguish an odor after prolonged exposure to it), or because the odor is being masked or hidden by other odors that are present, such as cooking, damp, musty or chemical odors. In addition, certain conditions in pipe and soil can cause odor fade – the loss of odorant so that it is not detectable by smell.
HELPFUL TIPS
REMAIN calm
DON'T light a match, candle or cigarette.
DON'T turn electrical appliances or lights on or off or use any device that could cause a spark.
IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE the area, and from a safe location, call SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or call 911.
Use your senses of sight, hearing and smell, along with any of the following signs, to alert yourself to the presence of a gas leak:
Look
• A damaged connection to a gas appliance
• Dirt or water being blown in the air
• Dead or dying vegetation (in an otherwise moist area) over or near pipeline areas
• A fire or explosion near a pipeline
• Exposed pipeline after an earthquake, fire, flood or other disaster
Listen
• An unusual sound, such as a hissing, whistling or roaring sound near a gas line or appliance.
Smell
• The distinctive odor of natural gas. Please be aware that some people may not be able to smell the odor because they have a diminished sense of smell, olfactory fatigue (normal, temporary inability to distinguish an odor after prolonged exposure to it), or because the odor is being masked or hidden by other odors that are present, such as cooking, damp, musty or chemical odors. In addition, certain conditions in pipe and soil can cause odor fade – the loss of odorant so that it is not detectable by smell.
HELPFUL TIPS
REMAIN calm
DON'T light a match, candle or cigarette.
DON'T turn electrical appliances or lights on or off or use any device that could cause a spark.
IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE the area, and from a safe location, call SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or call 911.