Furnace Smells Like Gas? What to Do Right Now

Ben Amina — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 10:49:25 +0000

Aire One East Heating & Cooling Furnace Smells Like Gas? What to Do Right Now The safety steps to take first, what causes a gas smell, and what happens next Leave FirstEnbridge 1-866-763-5427Durham Region 2026 GUIDE AIRE ONE EAST DURHAM REGION ★ 4.8 Google (364)Carrier Factory Authorized24/7 Emergency ServiceFamily Owned Since 1991TSSA Licence #1219734Serving Durham Region Updated November 2, 2026 · Reviewed by Ben Amina, TSSA-certified gas technician, Licence #1219734 · Aire One East Heating & Cooling By Ben Amina, Owner and Manager · TSSA Licence #1219734 Aire One East Heating & Cooling, 1910 Dundas St E #117, Whitby If your furnace smells like gas, treat it as an emergency and leave the house now. Natural gas has no smell of its own, so gas utilities add a chemical called mercaptan that smells like rotten eggs or sulphur. That smell is there for one reason: to warn you about a leak. A gas leak near a furnace can come from a loose fitting, a failing gas valve, a corroded connector, or a problem lighting the burners, and any spark from a light switch, phone, or appliance can ignite it. This guide gives you the exact safety steps to follow first, then explains what can cause a gas smell around a furnace, how to tell it apart from other smells, and what happens once the utility and a licensed technician arrive in Durham Region. If your furnace smells like gas, do this now Get everyone, including pets, out of the house right away. Leave doors and windows open behind you if you can do it without delay. Do not use phones, light switches, appliances, or electronics inside, and do not smoke or light anything. Do not start a car in an attached garage or nearby. Once you are safely away, call the Enbridge Gas 24/7 emergency line at 1-866-763-5427 or 911. Do not go back inside until the utility or emergency responders say it is safe. Key takeaways If your furnace smells like gas, like rotten eggs or sulphur, treat it as a leak until proven otherwise. Leave first, then call Enbridge Gas or 911 from outside. Never search for the leak yourself. Common causes include loose fittings, a failing gas valve, an old flexible connector, and delayed or failed ignition. Some smells that seem like gas come from other sources, but only a gas check can rule a leak out. After the utility makes the area safe, a TSSA-certified gas technician must find and repair the cause. Short answer: if your furnace smells like gas, leave the house immediately without touching switches or phones, and call Enbridge Gas at 1-866-763-5427 or 911 once you are outside. Do not try to find or fix the leak. After the utility clears the area, a licensed technician repairs the cause. Aire One East offers 24/7 furnace repair across Durham Region, including Oshawa, Ajax and Pickering. Call 905-576-7600. On this page Why a furnace smells like gas 6 reasons a furnace smells like gas Smells that are not gas What not to do when a furnace smells like gas What happens after you report it? How to prevent gas leaks around your furnace Key terms in this article Frequently asked questions Why a furnace smells like gas A gas furnace is connected to your home’s gas line by a pipe, a manual shutoff valve, and usually a short connector that leads to the furnace’s gas valve. From there, the gas valve feeds the burners, where the gas should light within a second or two of flowing. When a furnace smells like gas, it means gas is escaping somewhere along that path, or it is flowing without lighting right away. Because the smell is added on purpose, even a small amount is noticeable, often well before it reaches a dangerous level. That is exactly why the smell must never be ignored. A furnace that smells like gas may have a tiny leak at a fitting or a serious failure, and only a proper gas test can tell the difference. Leave first and call from outside. A phone, switch, or doorbell inside the house can create a spark. 6 reasons a furnace smells like gas A loose or damaged fitting: threaded joints and unions on the gas pipe can loosen with vibration or age. An old flexible gas connector: older connectors can crack or corrode over time. A failing gas valve: a valve that leaks internally or at its seals can release gas into the cabinet. Our furnace won’t turn off guide covers a gas valve that will not close. Delayed or failed ignition: if the gas flows but does not light right away, a small amount can escape before the furnace shuts it off. A weak furnace igniter or dirty flame sensor can play a part. A pilot light that went out: on older furnaces with a standing pilot, a pilot that is out can sometimes let gas escape if the safety does not close fully. A leak elsewhere on the gas line: the smell may be near the furnace but coming from the water heater, dryer, range, or another appliance. Whenever a furnace smells like gas for any of these reasons, it needs a licensed gas technician. In Ontario, work on gas piping, valves, and appliances must be done by a TSSA-certified gas technician. Smells that are not gas Some smells near a furnace can be mistaken for gas. They are worth knowing, but the safe rule stays the same: if you think your furnace smells like gas, leave and call first, and let the utility rule a leak out. Smell Common source What to do Rotten eggs or sulphur Natural gas with added mercaptan Leave and call Enbridge or 911 from outside Burning dust on first start Dust burning off the heat exchanger after summer Usually fades in an hour. See our furnace smells like burning guide Hot plastic or electrical An overheating motor or wiring Turn the furnace off and call […]

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furnace smells like gas – Aire One East Heating & Cooling

Furnace Smells Like Gas? What to Do Right Now