Have a strong gas odor at the meter on the side of the house. House uses gas for the heat pump and for the fireplace.

Why would I have such a strong smell out by the driveway when the heat pump and fireplace are on the other side of the house? The meter is about three years old and installed and maintained by the local utility company.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: x0225095,

If it has a regulator on it, it could be relieving excess pressure to atmosphere

quote:

Originally posted by rexles:
If it has a regulator on it, it could be relieving excess pressure to atmosphere

It is making a hissing sound.

Anything to worry about ? THere’s no smell in the house. Just at the meter and the driveway at the side of the house. Just smelled very strong a while ago when my girlfriend was leaving.

Does your gas company have an after hours emergency number? I’d call them or the fire department to check it out.

I'd call the gas company. If you can smell it and hear it it's leaking.

Blow off valve at the premises is "doing its job".

When the delivery pressure is too high, the meter is supposed to vent to prevent overpressure into the premises.

Remember that incident in New England several months ago where house blew up?

Yeah. Call the gas company.

Call the gas company. Around here they have people that will come right out to check leaks.

Might be nothing but I wouldn't take a risk if you smell gas.

Call gas company and/or 911. Unless you wish to explore the afterlife early, it should be handled tonight.

I had that problem last year. Turned out one of the fittings cams loose

Edit: After re-reading it, call 911 not the gas company. The FD can mitigate any immediate issues and get an expedited response from the gas company.

1) Leave the house NOW!
2) Call the Gas company.
3) Call 911 or the Fire Dept if you can't reach the Gas company.
4) Let us know when you are safely away from the house.

H&K-Guy

Gas company on the way. Made call at 8:10 pm.

Thanks guys.

I’m out of the house

That happened to a next door neighbor a few years ago while they were away. I called the gas company as soon as I smelled gas and could tell where it was coming from. They were out within less than 45 minutes. It was a loose coupling on the meter.

Please let us know how this turns out.

All is good.

Utility company just left at 8:50 pm.

There was a fitting that had worked itself loose on the meter....Blowing bubbles like mad when they sprayed it.

Pilot relit.

Good to go.

Thanks for your responses and safety concerns.

Glad you got it taken care of tonight.

Dawn(dish soap) and water in a spray bottle works to test fittings.

quote:

Originally posted by x0225095:

quote:

Originally posted by rexles:
If it has a regulator on it, it could be relieving excess pressure to atmosphere

It is making a hissing sound.

Anything to worry about ? THere’s no smell in the house. Just at the meter and the driveway at the side of the house. Just smelled very strong a while ago when my girlfriend was leaving.

If it is making a hissing sound, DO NOT DELAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Get the GAS COMPANY involved!!!!!!!!!!!!! Something is leaking and could be accumulating in areas! At a minimum, if it catches fire you could have some really serious problems. Some 40 years ago the wife smelled natural gas in front of our house. We called the gas company, they came out with their sniffer, yes, the wife's nose was correct! There was a serious leak in the pipe leading into the house. Fortunately, it was outside the basement wall. In any case gas leaks can be dangerous or even deadly.

When we were stationed at Ft. Carson there was a "gas incident". 4 people died. The shock wave was felt for more than a mile, and we lived only half a block away. Leak inside one of the living quarters, nobody living there at the time.

Somebody called the MPs who came right out, drove up just in time for the concentrated gas in the quarters to go off! Whole house wall came down on the MP's sedan.

In short, gas leaks are serious stuff. Fortunately for the OP, it was nothing major and has been taken care of.

Why in the hell would you post in a gun forum when you smell natural gas? Momma drop you on your head?