A gas leak is a safety emergency, not a plumbing project. The right first step is to get out and call the utility, not to hunt for the leak.
This guide covers the signs, the steps to take and what a plumber can safely do once the utility says the building is safe.
If you suspect a leak right now, leave the building and call 911 or PSE&G at 1-800-880-7734 from outside.
What To Do First
- 1Leave immediately
Take everyone with you, and pets only if they are at hand. Never go back inside or search for them.
- 2Do not use switches or phones inside
Do this as you leave. A spark can ignite gas, so do not flip lights or start a car in an attached garage.
- 3Move away
PSE&G advises moving at least 350 feet away.
- 4Call 911 or PSE&G
Use 1-800-880-7734 from outside. Wait for them to declare the building safe.
Only call a plumber after the utility has made the area safe.
Signs Of A Leak
Warning signs
- A rotten-egg smell. Utilities add this scent on purpose.
- A hissing or whistling sound near a pipe or appliance.
- Dead patches of grass or plants over a buried line.
- Bubbles in standing water or mud near a gas line.
- Physical symptoms such as dizziness or headache with a smell.
If you smell gas at all, treat it as real. Do not wait for more signs.
Want a plumber on the way? The line is open all day and all night.
☎ Call (732) 466-1098What About A Fuel Leak Or Oil Smell?
Some homes use heating oil or propane instead of natural gas. A fuel smell near a tank, in a basement or in a yard needs a specialist. Call the fuel supplier, and call 911 for strong odors or any fire risk.
Plumbers do not repair fuel tanks or heating oil lines. We handle water, drain and gas piping inside the house when the utility has cleared it.
PSE&G Work On North Brunswick Streets
PSE&G announced a program to replace aging cast-iron gas pipes on about 22 North Brunswick streets from October 2023 through 2024, so that work window has now passed. The list included Wheeler Road, Hobart Road, Kearny Drive and Harding Avenue.
Neighbors may smell gas or hear contractors during utility work. If the smell is inside your house, treat it as a leak and call the number above. Do not assume it is the project.
What A Plumber Can Do After The Utility Clears It
A licensed plumber can pressure-test interior gas piping, replace a damaged flex connector and check appliance connections. A water heater with a venting problem is one common finding. See water heater repair.
Boilers, dryers and ranges also use gas lines. If your boiler was involved, see boiler repair. We serve North Brunswick, South Brunswick and New Brunswick.
Carbon Monoxide Is A Different Danger
A natural gas leak smells of sulfur, while carbon monoxide from a failing appliance has no smell at all. A carbon monoxide alarm on each floor and near sleeping areas is the only dependable warning.
If an alarm sounds, leave the house, call 911 and do not go back in until responders say it is safe. Then have the appliance inspected before anyone uses it again.
Gas Appliances Worth Checking Yearly
Furnaces, boilers, water heaters, dryers and ranges all use gas. Each has a connector, a shut-off and a vent. A licensed technician can check the connections, the flame and the venting once a year.
A yearly check catches a failing connector or a rusting flue before it becomes an emergency.
Talking To Your Household About A Gas Plan
A plan only helps if everyone knows it. Teach older children and guests that a rotten-egg smell means leave first, call from outside and wait. Post the PSE&G number on the fridge.
Practice once. Know where to meet outside, and agree that nobody goes back for a phone or a pet. Pets can be called to the door, but do not search for them in a gas-filled house.
After The Utility Clears The Building
Once PSE&G or the fire department says the building is safe, ask what they found. If the problem was an appliance, a licensed plumber or heating technician repairs it before anyone relights it.
Ask for the repair to be documented. Keep the paperwork with your records, and replace any carbon monoxide alarm that is past its date. According to PSE&G, the right response to a suspected leak is to leave, move at least 350 feet away and call 911 or 1-800-880-7734 from outside.
Prevention
Install carbon monoxide and, if you want, natural gas detectors. Test them monthly. Keep the area around gas appliances clear, and schedule annual service for furnaces, boilers and water heaters.
Local questions answered
Call 911 or the PSE&G gas leak line at 1-800-880-7734 from outside the building.
PSE&G advises at least 350 feet.
Only after the utility has declared the building safe. Never test while you smell gas.
Licensed plumbers can repair interior gas piping once the utility has cleared the area.
Treat it as one. Utilities add that scent so leaks are easy to notice.
Ready to talk to a plumber? The line is open all day and all night.
☎ Call (732) 466-1098