A rotten-egg smell near a water heater may mean gas is leaking. Do not stay inside to search for the source. Get everyone out of the building now. PSE&G advises moving at least 350 feet away, then calling 911 or your gas utility’s emergency number from there. If PSE&G supplies your gas, call 1-800-880-7734.
Leave without operating anything electrical
As you leave, do not create a flame or spark. That means:
- Do not turn lights, appliances, or flashlights on or off.
- Do not use a landline or cell phone inside.
- Do not pull plugs from outlets.
- Do not smoke, vape, or light a match.
- Do not ring a doorbell.
- Do not start a vehicle near the building.
- Do not try to find or repair the leak.
Leave electrical switches, appliances, and the water heater alone. Do not stop to adjust the thermostat, close a gas valve, or inspect the burner.
PSE&G tells people who smell gas to leave immediately and move at least 350 feet away. Help children, visitors, and pets leave without delaying your exit.
Report the possible leak from a safe distance
Once you are outside and at least 350 feet away, call 911 or your gas utility’s emergency number. If PSE&G supplies your gas, its gas emergency number is 1-800-880-7734.
Tell the dispatcher:
- The address where you noticed the odor
- That it smelled like rotten eggs or sulfur
- That the odor seemed strongest near the water heater
- Whether you heard hissing, whistling, or roaring
- Whether anyone feels ill or needs medical help
Do not go back inside to gather more details. PSE&G explains that natural gas is given a rotten-egg or sulfur-like odor to help people notice a possible leak. It also warns that smell is not the only possible sign, so a fading odor does not prove the area is safe.
Wait outside for responders and follow their directions before re-entering. Do not assume someone else has already reported the smell.
Do not inspect the water heater before clearance
The smell being strongest near the water heater does not prove the heater is the source. Nearby gas piping or another appliance could be involved. Finding the cause requires the right testing.
Do not remove access panels, relight a pilot, touch gas controls, or use an electronic detector inside while the leak is still suspected. Opening windows is also not a reason to remain in the building or delay the emergency call.
If you also see water on the floor, avoid walking through it to reach the heater, an electrical panel, a plug, or a shutoff. Report both the odor and the visible water from outside.
What to do after the gas emergency is cleared
The gas utility or first responders may identify the next step. If they say the building is safe but the water heater needs attention, keep the unit off if instructed and arrange qualified service. Rooter Experts offers water heater service in Northern New Jersey.
Before booking, write down observations you already made safely. Useful details include:
- Whether the odor appeared when no hot water was running
- Whether it was noticed throughout the room or only near one area
- Whether the utility identified a gas leak
- Whether the heater was shut down or tagged out
- Whether you saw dripping, corrosion, or a puddle
- The heater’s brand, model, fuel type, and any displayed error code
Do not restart the unit just to reproduce the smell. If the utility found no gas leak and the odor later seems tied only to hot water use, share that pattern with the service professional instead of testing it repeatedly.
If you also noticed water around the heater
After responders clear the gas concern, report any water leak to the service professional. A.O. Smith’s water-heater leak guide advises against continued use until the cause is diagnosed. Avoid standing water near electrical equipment; for the separate leak problem, read our leaking-water-heater guide.
If the smell returns
Leave again and report it as a possible gas leak. Do not treat a previous inspection as proof that a new odor is harmless. The safe order stays the same: exit, move away, call from outside, and wait for instructions.
Water heater service after emergency clearance
Call Rooter Experts at (201) 583-4778 for plumbing or drain service in Northern New Jersey.