Smell gas right now? Stop reading. Leave the building, take everyone with you, and call 877.427.4321 (Atlanta Gas Light, 24 hours) or 911 once you are outside and away.
Smell Gas? Leave First. Read This From Outside.
Leave the building now
Do this now
- Leave immediately and take everyone with you. Don't hunt for the source and don't try to stop the leak.
- On your way out, touch nothing that can spark: no light switches on or off, no phones until you're away, no flashlights, no appliances, no starting a car in an attached garage.
- Once you're a safe distance away, call 911 and Atlanta Gas Light's 24-hour emergency line, 877.427.4321. If a different utility bills your gas (Lawrenceville runs its own system, 770-963-3332), call that number instead.
- Always make the call yourself rather than assuming a neighbor did.
- Stay out until the gas utility or emergency personnel say it's safe to go back.
Can you fix it yourself?
There is no homeowner fix for a suspected gas leak. Even the meter valve isn't yours to close in an evacuation; leave it for the utility or emergency personnel. Your job is distance, a phone call from outside, and patience.
When to call a pro
- The utility responds to the leak itself, free, around the clock. The plumber or licensed gas fitter comes after, to repair or replace whatever failed on your side
- Your side matters more than people think: in Lawrenceville's words, the utility maintains gas lines to the meter, and the lines from the meter through your home and yard are yours
- Any appliance the responders shut off should be put back in service by a qualified pro, not by trial and error
We're a referral directory, not a contractor; this button opens our request form.
What to ask the plumber
- Are you licensed in Georgia for gas piping work?
- Will you pressure-test the house lines and tag what failed?
- Can you check appliance connectors and venting while the system is open?
- Will this work be permitted and inspected?
Questions we hear
What does a gas leak look and sound like, besides the smell?
Atlanta Gas Light's signs: blowing dirt, discolored vegetation or bubbling in standing water outside; a hissing or roaring sound near a line or appliance; and the rotten-egg odorant. Don't rely on smell alone, though; AGL notes some people can't detect the odorant and conditions can mask or fade it.
Why can't I use my phone or flip a switch on the way out?
Natural gas in the right mix ignites from a spark, and switches, phones, flashlights and car ignitions all spark. The American Gas Association's list of don'ts is specific: no matches, no lights on or off, no flashlight, no car, no telephone. Make the call after you're clear.
Is this the same as a carbon monoxide alarm going off?
Different hazard, same exit. CO is odorless and comes from incomplete combustion; symptoms include headache, dizziness, nausea and confusion. Atlanta Gas Light's advice for suspected CO is to get everyone including pets outside to fresh air, call for help, and not re-enter until it's deemed safe.
Sources
Every number and local fact above comes from one of these, read 2026/10. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
- Atlanta Gas Light: Emergency Information
- American Gas Association: Using Natural Gas Safely
- Southern Company Gas: Safety
- Atlanta Gas Light: Severe Weather Safety
- Lawrenceville Utilities: Natural Gas Department
- Lawrenceville Utilities: Gas Line Responsibilities
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Carbon Monoxide Information Center