That smell stops you in your tracks. It’s faint at first, maybe something you brush off. Then it’s not faint anymore.
Natural gas has a distinctive sulfur-like odor added specifically so you notice it. If you’re noticing it, that’s the system working exactly as intended. What you do in the next few minutes matters.
This post covers what to do immediately when you smell gas, when the situation calls for a licensed gas line plumber, and what the repair process actually looks like when you call us.
What to Do the Moment You Smell Gas
This is not the moment to investigate. It is not the moment to try to find the source, flip switches, or start troubleshooting. Here is exactly what to do:
Get everyone out of the house. Don’t stop to grab belongings. Don’t open windows or turn on fans. Leave the door open on your way out and keep moving.
Don’t touch any electrical switches on the way out. This includes light switches, the garage door opener, and anything else that creates a spark. Natural gas ignites at a relatively low concentration in air, and a spark from a switch is enough.
Don’t use your phone inside the house. Wait until you’re outside and away from the building before calling anyone.
Turn off the gas at the exterior shutoff if you can do so safely. The shutoff is typically located near the gas meter on the outside of your home. Turn it perpendicular to the pipe to shut it off. If you’re not sure where it is or can’t get to it quickly, skip this step and keep moving.
Call 911 or your gas utility from outside. In Minnesota, that’s CenterPoint Energy at 1-800-245-2377 or Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-4999. They dispatch emergency crews who can assess the situation and clear the property.
Call a licensed gas line plumber. Once the utility has cleared the immediate emergency, you’ll need a licensed plumber to locate the source of the leak, make the repair, and verify the system is safe before gas is restored to the home.
The Most Common Causes of Residential Gas Leaks
Not all gas smells are the same situation. Some are minor. Some are serious. All of them need to be treated seriously until a professional confirms otherwise. Here are the most common sources we find:
Loose or deteriorated fittings. Gas line fittings can loosen over time, especially at connection points near appliances. A fitting that worked fine for ten years can develop a slow leak as it ages or as the pipe shifts slightly with temperature changes.
Corroded pipe. Older gas lines, particularly those that run underground or in areas with moisture exposure, can develop corrosion that creates small leaks over time. These are often slow and hard to detect without pressure testing.
Appliance connections. The flexible connector between your gas line and an appliance, such as a stove, dryer, or water heater, is one of the more vulnerable points in the system. These connectors have a service life and can crack or loosen, particularly if an appliance has been moved or bumped.
Improper installation. If gas line work was done without a permit or by someone without a gas line license, connections may not meet code. This comes up more often than you’d expect, particularly in older homes that have had multiple owners and DIY modifications over the years.
Seismic or settling movement. Minnesota doesn’t have significant seismic activity, but homes shift and settle over time, and that movement can stress gas line connections, particularly older ones.
When It’s an Emergency vs. When It Can Wait
Not every gas situation is a 4am evacuation. Some situations are urgent but not immediately dangerous. Here’s how to read the difference:
Call 911 and evacuate immediately if:
- The smell is strong and persistent
- You hear a hissing sound near a gas line or appliance
- You notice dead vegetation in a line over an underground gas line
- Someone in the home is feeling dizzy, nauseous, or has a headache that could indicate carbon monoxide exposure alongside the gas smell
Call a gas line plumber promptly if:
- You detected a faint smell that has since dissipated, but you want the system inspected
- A pilot light keeps going out on an appliance
- You’re adding a new gas appliance and need the line extended or a new connection installed
- You recently had work done near gas lines and want them pressure tested
- You’re buying or selling a home and want the gas system inspected as part of due diligence
The honest answer is that any gas smell warrants a call. The difference is whether you call 911 first or go straight to a plumber.
What a Gas Line Plumber Actually Does
A licensed gas line plumber is not the same as a general plumber. Gas line work requires a specific license in Minnesota, and not every plumbing company carries it. When you call us, here’s what the process looks like.
We arrive, assess the situation, and use pressure testing and gas detection equipment to locate the source of the leak. This is not guesswork. Modern leak detection tools can identify leaks that are too small to smell, which matters because a slow leak that hasn’t triggered your senses yet is still a leak.
Once the source is identified, we explain exactly what we found, what caused it, and what the repair involves before any work starts. That upfront clarity is something our customers consistently mention, and it’s something we take seriously on every call.
The repair itself depends on what we find. It might be tightening or replacing a fitting. It might be replacing a section of corroded pipe. It might be replacing a flexible appliance connector. Whatever it is, we do it to code, pull the appropriate permits, and pressure test the system after the repair is complete to verify it’s holding before we restore gas service.
One customer, J. Schommer, called us at 4am on a Sunday after smelling gas in her home. Our technician Grant arrived, identified and fixed the issue within 20 minutes, and was professional and courteous throughout. He even took a moment to place a rug under an appliance so it wouldn’t scratch the hardwood floor when he moved it. That’s the level of care we bring to every call, whether it’s 4am on a Sunday or a Tuesday afternoon.
Gas Line Installation: When You’re Adding an Appliance
Not all gas line calls are emergencies. We also install new gas lines for homeowners who are adding or upgrading appliances. Some of the most common installation projects we handle include:
Gas stoves and ranges. Many Minnesota homeowners switching from electric to gas cooking need a new gas line run to the kitchen. This is a straightforward job for a licensed plumber but not a DIY project.
Gas dryers. Similar to stove installations, adding a gas dryer requires a properly sized and properly connected gas line with the right shutoff valve.
Outdoor gas grills and fire pits. A permanent natural gas connection to an outdoor grill or fire feature is one of the more popular projects we handle in spring and summer. No more propane tanks, no running out mid-cookout.
Gas fireplaces. Whether you’re adding a new gas fireplace or converting an existing wood-burning fireplace to gas, the line work requires a licensed plumber.
Whole-home generators. Natural gas generators need a properly sized gas line to run efficiently. Undersizing the line is a common mistake when homeowners try to DIY this, and it results in a generator that doesn’t perform under load.
In every case, the work is permitted, inspected, and pressure tested before it’s considered complete. That’s not just good practice — it’s required by code in Minnesota, and it protects your homeowner’s insurance coverage.
Why Licensing Matters for Gas Line Work
Minnesota requires a specific license to work on natural gas lines. It’s not the same license as a general plumber’s license, and not every company that offers plumbing services is licensed for gas line work.
This matters because unlicensed gas line work is one of the more common causes of the slow leaks we find in older homes. Someone ran a line years ago without the right credentials, used the wrong fittings or pipe material, didn’t pressure test, and the homeowner has been living with a marginally compromised system ever since.
Our plumbers are fully licensed for gas line work in Minnesota. Every job is permitted and inspected. We don’t cut corners on gas because the consequences of doing so are serious in a way that a leaky faucet is not.
What to Expect When You Call Us
If you’re calling because you smell gas right now, call 911 first, get out of the house, then call us once you’re safely outside. We offer 24/7 emergency service and will get someone to you as quickly as possible.
If you’re calling for a non-emergency gas line inspection or installation, our office will call you back to confirm the appointment window and give you the technician’s name before they arrive. You’ll know exactly who’s coming and when.
Either way, the process is the same once we’re on site: honest assessment, clear explanation of what we found, upfront pricing before any work starts, and the job done right.
We serve Plymouth, Maple Grove, New Hope, Golden Valley, Crystal, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Saint Louis Park, and surrounding communities.
Smell gas or need a licensed gas line plumber? Call (763) 473-2267 immediately for 24/7 emergency service. For non-emergency gas line work, fill out our service request form and we’ll reach out to get you scheduled.
