Natural Gas

Your gas company injects an odorant into your gas before it is distributed, so it can be detected. The odorant is so highly concentrated that even the smallest amounts of natural gas can be detected. The odorant gives off a foul smell, like rotten eggs.

Any odor of natural gas inside your home may indicate a leak. Follow these steps if you detect a leak:

• Do open windows and doors.
  
  
• Do evacuate all persons from the building.
  
  
• Do call NW Natural or your local gas company from a neighbor’s phone or a phone far away from the building.
  
  
• Don’t use the telephone (including cell phones and other portable communications devices with a battery). These can spark and create an ignition source.
  
  
• Don’t light matches or create any other source of ignition.
  
  
• Don’t turn lights off or on, or operate any electrical switches (either off or on). This could create a source of ignition.

If there is a strong gas odor in your home, or you can see or hear a break, follow the instructions above. Meanwhile, turn off the gas valve located at the gas meter (see instructions below) with a wrench or other suitable tool. If the leaking gas ignites, do not attempt to put out the flames. Get to safety, call 911, then call the fire department and then call your local gas company.

NOTE: Turn off the gas valve only if you smell or hear gas leaking.