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Gas Smell Outside Your House in Murrieta? What It Means and What to Do

By the Murrieta Leak Pros team ·

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A rotten-egg smell near your gas meter, side yard or outdoor kitchen should never be ignored. Natural gas has no smell of its own; utilities add an odorant so you notice leaks. This guide explains what an outdoor gas smell can mean, what to do right away, and when to call. Safety first: if the smell is strong, leave the area and call 911 and SoCalGas.

Once the utility says the area is safe, our gas leak Murrieta CA team can locate leaks on your side of the meter, call (951) 299-3473.

Why do I smell gas outside my house?

An outdoor gas smell usually comes from a leak at the meter or regulator, a loose fitting on a BBQ, fire pit or pool heater line, a buried yard line that is cracked or corroded, or a venting regulator after a pressure change. Sometimes the smell is a sewer vent or a dead animal. Treat it as gas until a pro or the utility says otherwise.

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Technician digging beside a Murrieta gas meter to check an outdoor gas line
Technician digging beside a Murrieta gas meter to check an outdoor gas line

What should I do right now?

If the smell is strong or you hear hissing, move everyone away from the area and the house. Don't use switches, phones, garage door openers or lighters near the smell. Once you are a safe distance away, call 911 and SoCalGas. Don't try to find the leak or turn valves yourself unless the utility tells you to.

  1. Move people and pets away from the smell, upwind if you can.
  2. Don't start a car parked near the meter.
  3. Call 911 and SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 from a safe place.
  4. Wait for the utility to check the meter and their lines.
  5. If the leak is on your side of the meter, call a gas leak detection pro to find and fix it.

What are the 6 common causes of an outdoor gas smell?

1. Meter or regulator leak

Fittings on the meter set can loosen or corrode. The utility owns and fixes the meter and regulator, so call them first.

2. Buried yard line

Lines that run to a pool heater, BBQ island or detached garage can crack from soil movement, roots or digging. Steel lines can rust. These are on your side of the meter.

3. Outdoor kitchen, BBQ or fire pit

Flex connectors and quick-disconnect fittings on outdoor appliances wear out in the sun. Many homes in Los Alamos Hills and Bear Creek have outdoor kitchens added years after the house was built.

4. Pool or spa heater

Pool heaters use large gas lines and are often far from the house. A leak there can smell strongest at the equipment pad.

5. Venting regulator

A regulator may briefly vent gas after a pressure change. A smell that comes and goes at the meter should still be checked by the utility.

6. Something that only smells like gas

A dry sewer trap, a sewer vent on the roof or a dead animal can smell like sulfur. Our sewer smell guide covers those causes.

Have a leak? Don’t wait for it to get worse.

Our technicians are standing by 24/7 with the equipment to find your leak fast. No unnecessary digging, no guesswork.

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Who is responsible for the leak, me or SoCalGas?

The utility is generally responsible for the gas line up to and including the meter. Lines after the meter, on your property, are usually the owner's responsibility. That includes yard lines to pool heaters, BBQs and fire pits. After the utility checks their side, a gas leak detection company finds and repairs leaks on yours.

Learn more in our guide to gas leak warning signs, including signs inside the home.

How do pros find an outdoor gas leak, and what does it cost?

Techs use electronic combustible gas detectors along the line, then a pressure test to confirm a leak and a tracer gas test for buried lines. Once found, the leak is marked and repaired. In Murrieta, a gas leak detection visit costs about $150 to $400, pressure and tracer gas testing on buried lines $250 to $600, and a small fitting or valve repair often $200 to $800.

When a buried line needs to be replaced, our pipe repair crew can quote it before any digging starts. For water leaks found during the same visit, our leak detection team can check those too.

How can I prevent outdoor gas leaks?

  • Call 811 before you dig so buried lines are marked.
  • Replace old flex connectors on BBQs and fire pits.
  • Have yard gas lines checked when you buy a home or add a pool heater.
  • Keep plants and mulch clear of the meter.
  • Install a carbon monoxide alarm inside, near sleeping areas.

Frequently asked questions

Is a gas smell outside dangerous?

It can be. Gas outdoors usually spreads out, but a strong smell, hissing or dead plants near a line mean a leak that needs attention now.

Who fixes a gas leak at the meter?

SoCalGas handles the meter and regulator. Leaks after the meter, on your property, are usually yours to fix.

Can a buried gas line leak without a smell?

Small leaks deep in soil can lose some odor. Dead grass along the line or bubbling in wet soil are other clues.

How much does gas leak detection cost in Murrieta?

About $150 to $400 for a standard visit, and $250 to $600 for pressure and tracer gas testing on buried lines.

Prices are approximate estimates for planning. Your final price depends on your property and is confirmed before work begins.

Where can I get help with this in Murrieta?

Murrieta Leak Pros offers Gas Leak Detection, Leak Repair & Trenchless Pipe Repair. We serve every Murrieta neighborhood:

We also serve Temecula, Menifee, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, Winchester, French Valley, Canyon Lake, Hemet and Sun City. See all service areas →

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