If you use propane at home, there is one smell every member of the household should recognize.
Propane is naturally virtually odorless. An identifying odor is added so people can detect a possible leak. That odor is commonly compared to rotten eggs, although people may describe it differently.
If you smell that unusual gas odor in or around your home, do not spend time trying to decide whether the leak is serious. Treat it as a possible propane leak and follow the appropriate safety steps.
This is especially important for homeowners who are new to propane. ALCIVIA's propane professionals say many first-time customers simply are not familiar with how residential propane works, including what to smell for and what to do if they suspect a leak.
What Does Propane Smell Like?
The warning odor added to propane is strong and unpleasant so it can be noticed.
Many people describe the smell as similar to rotten eggs. The exact way you describe it matters less than recognizing that an unusual gas odor may indicate propane is present where it should not be.
Do not wait until an emergency to learn the smell. Propane safety guidance recommends making sure everyone in the home knows what propane smells like. If you are unfamiliar with the odor, ask your propane provider for safety information and guidance.
What Should You Do If You Smell Propane?
If you smell propane or otherwise suspect a gas leak, your priority is getting people away from the potential hazard and contacting professionals from a safe location.
Consumer safety guidance from the Propane Education & Research Council recommends the following basic response:
- Extinguish smoking materials and other open flames if you can do so safely.
- Do not operate lights, appliances, telephones, or other potential sources of sparks in the area where you smell gas.
- Get everyone out of the home or affected area.
- Once you are safely away, contact your propane retailer. If you cannot reach the retailer, call 911 or your local fire department.
- Do not return to the building until a qualified professional or emergency responder says it is safe.
- Do not attempt to restart the propane system or relight appliances yourself unless a qualified professional has instructed you that it is safe to do so.
Your propane provider or emergency responders can determine what needs to happen next.
Do Not Try to Find the Leak Yourself
A common instinct is to investigate.
You smell something unusual, so you start walking from room to room trying to determine which appliance is causing it.
That is not the job of the homeowner.
If you suspect a propane leak, leave the area and let trained professionals inspect the system. Do not use an open flame to look for a leak, and do not attempt to repair propane lines, valves, regulators, tanks, or appliances yourself.
The goal is not to prove there is a leak before calling. The goal is to respond safely when you have reason to suspect one.
Why You Should Avoid Electrical Switches and Phones Inside
A suspected propane leak is one of those situations where normal household actions can create unnecessary risk.
Safety guidance advises homeowners not to turn electrical switches on or off in the affected area and not to use a telephone there. The concern is that a spark or flame could ignite accumulated gas.
Leave first. Make the call once you are safely away from the suspected leak.
Should You Turn Off the Propane Tank?
Propane safety guidance may instruct homeowners to shut off the main gas supply valve if it is safe to do so and if they know how.
That does not mean you should experiment with the tank during an emergency.
If you have never been shown how to operate the service valve, ask your propane provider to explain your system during a routine visit. Propane safety materials recommend that homeowners learn where the shutoff valve and other major components are located before an emergency occurs.
If you are unsure what to do during a suspected leak, get to a safe location and follow the instructions of your propane provider or emergency responders.
When Is It Safe to Go Back Inside?
Do not decide for yourself that enough time has passed.
Return only after the qualified propane professional or emergency responder handling the situation says it is safe.
If a leak is confirmed, the system may need to be repaired, checked, and returned to service by trained personnel. Appliances may also need to be checked before normal operation resumes.
What If You Smell Propane but Nobody Else Does?
Take the odor seriously even if another person does not notice it.
People do not always perceive odors the same way. In some situations, the ability to smell the added odor can also be reduced.
That is one reason propane gas detectors can provide an additional layer of warning. Current PERC consumer safety guidance recommends propane gas detectors and advises homeowners to follow the detector manufacturer's instructions for installation, use, testing, and care.
A detector is not a reason to ignore an odor, and your nose is not a substitute for appropriate safety equipment. If you suspect a leak, respond as though the situation needs professional attention.
Make Sure Your Family Knows What to Do
Propane safety should not depend on one person being home.
Everyone old enough to understand should know the basic plan.
- Recognize the warning odor associated with propane.
- Tell an adult immediately if propane is suspected.
- Leave the affected area.
- Do not play with appliance controls, valves, tanks, gas lines, or other propane equipment.
- Know that an adult should contact the propane provider or emergency services from a safe location.
For children, the message can be simple: if you smell something that might be propane or hear a propane gas detector alarm, tell an adult and go outside.
Know Your Propane Provider's Emergency Policy
ALCIVIA's propane professionals specifically recommend asking about emergency procedures when choosing a propane provider.
Homeowners should know what happens if they smell gas after normal business hours, who answers the emergency call, and what number they should use.
Those are questions worth answering when you establish service, not while you are standing outside your home trying to figure out who to contact.
Ask your provider:
- Who should I call if I smell propane?
- What number should I use after normal business hours?
- What should I do while waiting for help?
- What happens before the system can be returned to service?
- Are there specific safety instructions you want every household member to know?
New to Propane? Read the Safety Information You Receive
ALCIVIA's interview material highlights how unfamiliar propane can feel to homeowners moving from a city or a home with natural gas.
New propane customers often have basic questions about the tank, deliveries, monitoring, and safety precautions. The interviews also note that customers receive safety information covering what to smell for and what to do in the event of a leak.
Keep that information somewhere accessible and make sure other adults in the home know where it is.
If you move into a home that already has a propane tank, contact the propane provider early so you understand the system, establish service, and know whom to call if you ever have a safety concern.
What About Carbon Monoxide?
Propane odor and carbon monoxide are two different safety issues.
The odor added to propane is intended to help alert you to propane gas. Carbon monoxide is a different hazard and cannot be reliably detected by smell.
Current propane safety guidance recommends maintaining working carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors in the home, along with propane gas detectors where appropriate. Follow manufacturer instructions for placement, testing, and maintenance.
If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, follow the alarm manufacturer's emergency instructions and contact emergency services as appropriate.
The Most Important Rule: Do Not Ignore the Smell
Most homeowners will hopefully never have to respond to a propane leak.
But if you use propane, you should know what the warning odor smells like and what to do before an emergency ever occurs.
If you smell propane, do not investigate the system yourself. Get everyone away from the suspected leak, avoid potential ignition sources, and contact your propane provider or emergency services from a safe location.
Then wait for a qualified professional to tell you when it is safe to return and use the system again.
It is a simple safety plan, but it is one every propane household should know.