As outdoor temperatures fall and furnaces kick in, Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky are reminding customers to know the signs of a natural gas leak and to take immediate action if they suspect one: If you smell natural gas, get out fast.
“Safety is our top priority at Duke Energy, and that means making sure our customers know how to recognize a potential natural gas leak,” said Amy Spiller, president of Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky. “Understanding key warning signs, including mercaptan’s distinctive rotten egg odor, can help customers identify a leak and take appropriate safety precautions.”
Smell rotten eggs? It could be natural gas
Natural gas by itself has no smell. An odorant called mercaptan is injected into natural gas, giving it the distinctive smell of rotten eggs. The odor makes natural gas easy to detect and can alert the public of a natural gas leak to help avoid a potentially dangerous situation.
Look and listen for leaks
In addition to having a distinct smell, natural gas leaks can be visual, causing bubbling water, blowing dirt or dead plants. You may see sinkholes or exposed pipe. It’s also possible to hear a hissing sound near a leaking natural gas line or meter.
What steps should you take if you suspect a leak?
If you detect a natural gas odor, follow these steps:
• Leave the area immediately.
• Call Duke Energy at 800-634-4300 or call 911 from a neighbor’s house or somewhere away from the smell of natural gas.
• Do not return to the location of the leak until a Duke Energy technician or emergency responder informs you that the area is safe.
Detectors are another means of natural gas safety
Installing a natural gas detector is an additional safety measure to keep residents aware of potential leaks. A natural gas detector, which can be purchased at major retailers and home improvement stores, will sound an alarm if levels of natural gas in the area indicate a leak.
If the alarm is triggered, stop what you are doing, get as far away from the smell as possible, and call 911, or call Duke Energy at 800-634-4300 from a safe location.
For additional information about natural gas safety, visit Duke Energy’s Natural Gas and Safety website.
Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky