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Smell Gas?

A worker looking at an open gas furnace with the gas burners lit.

Natural Gas Safety

If you smell the distinctive rotten egg odor of natural gas, hear a hissing sound near a gas meter or pipeline or if you see a broken line please call our 24 hour Emergency Line at (540) 777-0623. We will send someone to check on the source of the odor free of charge, whether there is a leak or not. Never question and never assume someone else has called.

Here are some safety tips to follow:

If you smell gas inside:

  • Evacuate everyone immediately, including pets.
  • Leave the door open behind you as you evacuate the premises.
  • From a safe location, outside of the building and away from the
    gas leak, call our Emergency Line at (540) 777-0623 or call 911.
  • Keep other people and animals away from the area.
A closeup of two gas lines with valves. One of the valves shows bubbles from a leak test.

DO NOT do any of the following:

  • Do not use a telephone or cell phone inside the building.
  • Do not open or close any windows.
  • Do not flip light switches; pull plugs or operate electrical devices. This includes garage door openers, door bells and any type of vehicle, machinery or equipment.
  • Do not smoke, including e-cigarettes and vaping units, or light matches.
  • Do not attempt to repair the leak or broken pipe, doing so can cause harmful consequences.
  • Do not re-enter the building until you are told it is safe to do so.
A woman walking a dog on a leash down a sidewalk in a residential area.

If you smell gas outside:

  • Evacuate the area
  • Do not use electronic devices or cell phones near the area of the leak.
  • Do not attempt to repair the leak or broken pipe, doing so can cause harmful consequences.
  • From a safe location, away from the gas leak, call our Emergency Line at (540) 777-0623 or call 911.
  • Do not smoke, including e-cigarettes and vaping units, or light matches near the area of the leak.
  • Keep other people and animals away from the area.

If a pipeline is damaged while digging:

  • If it is possible you have damaged a gas line but it is not leaking, notify Roanoke Gas so it may be inspected. Call (540) 777-0623 and leave the line uncovered. Do not attempt to repair a line yourself.
  • Do not attempt to fix or repair the broken line, doing so can cause harmful consequences.
    If motorized equipment can be turned off safely, do so to prevent the ignition of accumulated gas.
  • Abandon the equipment and leave the area on foot.
  • Do not attempt to restart the equipment until you are told it is safe to do so.
  • Do not use any electronic devices including cell phones near the area of the leak.
  • From a safe location, away from the gas leak, call our Emergency Line at (540) 777-0623 or call 911.
  • Do not smoke or light matches near the area of the leak.
  • Keep other people and animals away from the area.
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