Want to protect your family from one of your home's deadliest hazards?
Gas line leaks can cause explosions that wipe out entire houses in seconds. One recent study found that gas pipeline incidents happen every 40 hours in America.
Don't believe us?
Between 2010 and 2021 nearly 2,600 serious pipeline incidents led to:
328 explosions
122 fatalities
603 injuries
The good news is that most home gas leaks are preventable with a little know-how.
Let's dive into how to detect gas leaks inside & outside your house so you can help keep your family safe.
Table Of Contents
What Is A Gas Line Leak (& Why Does It Happen)?
Why Gas Line Leaks Are Dangerous
7 Gas Leak Warning Signs You Can't Ignore
Gas Leak Detection & Prevention Tips
When To Call A Professional For Gas Line Services
Wrapping Up
What Is A Gas Line Leak (& Why Does It Happen)?
A gas leak happens when your home's gas supply system develops holes or loose connections.
They can occur inside gas pipes, along connection joints, or from gas appliances installed in your home.
Here's what most people don't realize…
Gas companies mix natural gas with a chemical called mercaptan that smells like rotten eggs.
This chemical helps humans detect gas leaks with our sense of smell. Natural gas is actually odorless without the rotten egg smell.
Gas leaks are common and happen for many reasons. Aging pipes, disturbed connections from digging projects, faulty appliance repairs, or improper installation can create gas leaks.
Outdoor lines are prone to damage from:
Excavation projects
Corrosion
Landslides
Gardening accidents
Vehicle crashes
From 2023-2025 alone there were pipeline incidents nationwide that resulted in over $872 million dollars in property damage and killed 41 people.
Why Gas Line Leaks Are Dangerous
Gas leaks threaten your home in many ways:
Home Explosions
Gas is extremely flammable. If enough gas builds up in an enclosed area and encounters a flame or spark, it will explode.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Gas leaks may also cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced when gas doesn't burn completely.
If your home's gas lines leak near an enclosed space like your fireplace, carbon monoxide can build up quickly.
That's why it's important to contact
Gas line service specialists right away when you smell gas, hear a hissing sound, or detect a rotten egg smell coming from your furnace.
Companies like AugerPros can service your gas lines, fireplaces, and connections. Certified specialists have special tools and expertise your average DIYer does not.
Around 100,000 Americans end up in the ER each year from accidentally inhaling carbon monoxide. Most of these incidents were completely preventable.
7 Gas Leak Warning Signs You Can't Ignore
Gas leaks can kill you. If you suspect something is wrong with your gas lines contact a professional immediately.
That said, here are seven common signs you may have a gas leak:
Smell Rotten Eggs
If you smell sulfur, rotten eggs, or anything similar to rotten eggs in your home you have a gas leak.
Never ignore this smell. Get outdoors into fresh air immediately and contact a professional.
Hear Hissing Or Whistling
If you hear a hissing, whistling, or roaring noise near gas lines and appliances gas is escaping from somewhere inside them.
This often occurs near your outdoor gas meter or gas-powered appliances indoors.
Plants Suddenly Die
If plants or grass won't grow over a particular area of your yard, you may have a gas leak underground.
Gas leaks kill vegetation by displacing oxygen in the soil which plants need to survive.
Experience Physical Symptoms
Headaches, fatigue, difficulty breathing, confusion, nausea, or other flu-like symptoms can indicate gas leaking into your home.
If your symptoms improve when you leave your house that's a sign you need better ventilation.
Higher Than Normal Gas Bills
Sudden spikes in your gas bill without a known reason could point to a gas leak.
Gas companies measure the gas flowing through your pipes so even small leaks add up over time.
White Cloud Near Gas Lines
If you see a white cloud, dust, or mist blowing from the ground at your gas lines, you probably have a gas leak.
You may even notice bubbles rising in puddles near your gas connections.
Yellow Flame On Gas Burners
Gas-powered appliances produce blue flames when they burn their fuel properly.
Yellow flames produce carbon monoxide. Orange flames also indicate incomplete combustion of gas.
If your gas-powered appliances regularly emit yellow flames, you may have a slow gas leak inside the appliance.
Gas Leak Detection & Prevention Tips
Following a few simple tips can greatly reduce your chances of gas leaks inside your home:
Install Detectors
Every home should have carbon monoxide detectors outside of every bedroom and on each floor of your house.
You should also buy natural gas detectors as most CO detectors will not detect natural gas leaks.
Test your detectors once a month and change the batteries every six months.
Hire Pros To Inspect Your Lines
Have a qualified technician inspect your home's gas lines and gas-powered appliances once a year.
They have specialized tools that can detect gas leaks you would otherwise miss.
Inspectors can identify safety hazards and fix problems before they become big emergencies.
Do The "Soap Bubble Test"
Buy some dish soap and mix it with water in a spray bottle. Apply soapy water to gas connections and fittings with your fingers.
If bubbles form you have a gas leak at that connection.
Know How To Turn Off The Gas
Every person living in your home should know where the gas shutoff valve is located and how to turn it off.
This is typically an outdoor valve near your gas meter.
If your home floods or you suspect a leak indoors you'll want to turn this valve off before evacuating.
Call 811 Before Digging
Every time you dig in your yard (no matter how small) call your local utility company first and request they mark underground lines.
You'll get this service for free. It can prevent major gas leaks if your digging tool hits a gas line.
Protect Your Outdoor Gas Appliances
Never plant anything near gas-powered equipment that could grow into it or damage it.
Likewise avoid placing fire pits, burn barrels, or other flame sources directly above buried gas lines.
When To Call A Professional For Gas Line Services
Your local gas company will send an emergency crew to your house if you need them.
However, there are a few situations where you should call the professionals yourself:
If you smell gas and:
Can't find the source
Hear loud hissing near gas lines
Your carbon monoxide detector alarms
Notice visible damage to gas lines
Someone else is showing the same symptoms
Call a licensed professional for:
Annual inspections of your home's gas lines and appliances
Installing or repairing gas appliances
Suspect slow leaks
Doing any type of repair or work that involves gas lines
Never try to fix gas leaks yourself. This work should only be done by licensed professionals who have specialized tools and training.
Gas leaks don't have to ruin your home or harm your family.
Statistics show pipelines cause serious problems every couple of days. However, if you follow this guide you can dramatically lower your risk.
Make sure you:
Install carbon monoxide & natural gas detectors
Learn the 7 signs of gas leaks
Schedule annual inspections by professionals
Know how to shut off your gas in an emergency
Contact professionals if you suspect a leak
You can help keep your family safe from gas leaks by being prepared. Don't wait until something bad happens to think about gas safety.
(0) comments
We welcome your comments
Log In
Post a comment as Guest
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.