Is a gas leak dangerous? What Tampa homeowners need to know

How dangerous is a gas leak?

Natural gas is highly flammable. A concentration of just 5-15% in air creates an explosive mixture that can be set off by a spark, a flame, or even static discharge. The rotten-egg smell is mercaptan, a chemical that Tampa's gas utility TECO Energy adds to make otherwise odorless gas detectable.

Beyond explosion risk, gas displaces oxygen in enclosed spaces. In a confined area with a significant leak, low oxygen can cause dizziness, unconsciousness, and death. Carbon monoxide from gas appliances burning improperly is an additional hazard that kills hundreds of Americans every year.

What to do immediately if you smell gas

Do not touch any light switches. Electrical switches can spark. Do not use your cell phone inside the house. Do not light anything. Do not start your car in an attached garage. Do not run any appliance with a motor, including fans, vacuums, or the garage door opener.

Get everyone out of the house. People and pets. If you can easily reach the front door or a window, open it on your way out to help vent the space, but don't slow down your exit to open multiple windows.

Once you're safely outside and at least 100 feet from the house, call 911, then TECO Energy's gas emergency line at (813) 223-0800, then us at (813) 219-8764 for emergency gas line repair.

Do not go back inside until TECO or a licensed gas plumber has found and fixed the leak and confirmed the house is safe.

Common sources of gas leaks in Tampa homes

Gas leaks most commonly happen at connection points: where lines connect to appliances (water heaters, stoves, dryers, furnaces), at the meter and regulator, and at joints in older black iron piping. Flexible gas connectors, the corrugated stainless steel lines that hook appliances to the gas supply, can get damaged by shifting, vibration, or corrosion over time.

Gas lines running through walls, under floors, or underground can develop leaks from corrosion, soil movement, or damage from other work (renovations, landscaping, pest control). These leaks may be small enough that you only smell gas intermittently, often when the HVAC system runs and circulates air past the leak. See our gas line repair and leak detection service for more detail.

How gas leaks are found and fixed

Professional detection uses electronic combustible gas detectors that catch leaks too small to smell. We check every gas connection from the meter to each appliance. For leaks underground or inside walls, we use pressure testing and tracer gas to pinpoint the spot without unnecessary digging.

The fix depends on the source. A loose fitting might just need tightening with proper thread sealant. A corroded pipe section gets replaced. A failed connector gets a new one. Every gas repair is followed by a pressure test to confirm the system is leak-free, and we can provide documentation for your records.

Preventing gas leaks

Have gas connections inspected annually, especially on older appliances. Replace flexible gas connectors that show corrosion, kinking, or damage. Install carbon monoxide detectors on every level and near sleeping areas. Florida building code requires them in new construction, but plenty of older Tampa homes don't have them. And never run gas-powered equipment (generators, grills, heaters) indoors or in enclosed spaces.