What does natural gas smell like?
Smell gas?
Report it fast!
Call 24 hours:
Toll-free: 1-800-663-9911
Rotten eggs: a bad smell for a good reason
Natural gas and piped propane smell like rotten eggs or sulphur. Because natural gas is odourless, we add trace amounts of a chemical called mercaptan, which has a distinctive rotten egg or sulphur-like odour. It smells bad for a good reason! In case of a leak, we want you to be able to detect and identify it. We never charge to investigate a gas odour call.
What to do if you smell gas
If you smell gas or hear the flow of escaping gas, follow these steps immediately:
- Don't smoke, light matches, operate electrical switches, use either cell or telephones, or create any other source of ignition.
- Leave the building immediately; leaving the door open and any windows that may already be open.
- Turn your gas off at the meter, if you know how.
- Get to a nearby phone and call the Terasen Gas 24-hour Emergency Line at
1-800-663-9911, or 911 or the fire department emergency number.