As furnace owners, we must always prioritize our safety, no matter how small or big an issue may be. From gas leaks and dangers of carbon monoxide to minor and more common issues, you should know how to deal with it all to ensure there are no dangerous situations arising in your home or building.
In this article, we’re going into detail about why your furnace smells like gas and what you should do about it.
Is It Normal to Smell Gas Near Your Furnace?
Some people, particularly when they initially turn on their furnace, report smelling a slight gas odor near the appliance. This could be considered typical because mercaptan, a safety ingredient in natural gas, gives out a strong odor similar to rotten eggs. On the other hand, you should not ignore a gas smell that won’t go away, no matter how powerful it is as it could indicate a gas leak.
Immediate Steps to Take If You Smell Gas
1. Do Not Ignore the Smell
Never ignore any indication of gas, no matter how subtle. The first step in dealing with a gas leak—no matter how small—is to recognize the danger it poses.
2. Evacuate the Premises
Get everyone out of the building as soon as possible. Evacuation could be delayed and danger increased if you pause to collect possessions or try to find the leak’s origin.
3. Avoid Triggering an Ignition
Stay away from anything that could cause the gas to ignite as you exit. Please refrain from using any electrical switches, cell phones, matches, or starting a car in the vicinity of the building. Gas can be ignited by sparks produced by these operations.
4. Shut Off the Gas Supply
When it’s safe to do so, turn off the main gas valve to your house right away. By reducing the amount of gas that can enter the house, this measure helps reduce the likelihood of accumulation and igniting. Get to know your gas shutdown valve’s location and how to use it before an emergency happens.
5. Open Doors and Windows
To let fresh air in, open the doors and windows as you leave. This contributes to lowering the gas concentration, which in turn lowers the risk of an unsafe environment. But you should only do this if it’s directly in the way of your escape route and you can do it safely and fast.
6. Call for Professional Help
Please contact HVAC emergency services or the 24-hour helpline of your gas company as soon as you are outside and away from the area where you suspect a gas leak. Notify them of anything that’s important, including how strong the odor is and any other symptoms you’ve seen. Pay close attention to what they say.
7. Do Not Re-enter the Premises
Until authorities say it’s safe to go back inside, remain outside. You should never assume that the odor has gone because there may be dangerous pockets of gas accumulation or persistent leakage.
8. Seek Medical Attention if Necessary
Quick medical assistance is required in the event that anyone has gas-related symptoms like lightheadedness, queasy stomach, or headaches. Notifying medical staff of the presence of gas exposure is critical in order to facilitate the administration of proper therapy
Listed below are the immediate steps you should take to ensure safety:
Get a Carbon Monoxide detector for your home to ensure that it avoids any such situation in the future.
Professional Help is one call away
If you find yourself in a situation where you experience persistent gas smell and it’s not reducing, call Comfort Union. We’ll be there to look at all the issues in your furnace and make sure that you don’t face any dangerous situations because of it.
Not only furnaces, but our expertise expands to air conditioners, heat pumps, and other systems as well.
Give us a call at 403-399-7903 today and we’ll respond right away!
