Repair guide
Gas Smell or Carbon Monoxide Alarm? What to Do Before Calling HVAC
Safety steps for a gas smell or carbon monoxide alarm in a New York City home, and when furnace or boiler repair is safe to schedule. Key points in this guide: Leave the building before calling for help; Call 911 and the gas utility from outside; Do not operate switches, flames or appliances.
Quick answer
If you smell gas or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the building first and call 911 and your gas utility from outside. Do not turn lights or appliances on or off, use open flames, or try to repair the equipment. Carbon monoxide is odorless, so a working alarm is essential, and symptoms such as headache, dizziness or nausea in several people at once are a warning sign. After emergency responders clear the building, Gotham Home Services can inspect the furnace or boiler for cracked heat exchangers, venting problems and combustion faults, and provide a written quote for repairs before approved work begins.
Published · Updated
Safety comes before repair. If you suspect gas or carbon monoxide, act first and call HVAC second. For equipment problems after the scene is cleared, see furnace and boiler repair in NYC.
Key points
- 1.Leave the building before calling for help
- 2.Call 911 and the gas utility from outside
- 3.Do not operate switches, flames or appliances
- 4.Carbon monoxide has no smell, so alarms matter
- 5.Have the heating equipment inspected after clearance
- 6.Never use a stove or oven for heat
In more detail
Get everyone, including pets, out of the building. From outside, call 911 and your gas utility. Do not flip light switches, use a phone inside, light a flame or try to find the source. Carbon monoxide cannot be smelled, so working alarms on each level and near sleeping areas are important. Headache, dizziness and nausea affecting several people are warning signs.
Once responders say it is safe, have the heating equipment inspected. Cracked heat exchangers, blocked flues and poor combustion are typical causes, and a cracked exchanger is a serious reason to compare repair with replacement, as in repairing versus replacing HVAC equipment.
For other urgent HVAC problems, such as no heat in winter, see what to do in an HVAC emergency.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the short answer on gas Smell or Carbon Monoxide Alarm?
If you smell gas or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the building first and call 911 and your gas utility from outside. Do not turn lights or appliances on or off, use open flames, or try to repair the equipment.
What are the key points to remember?
Leave the building before calling for help. Call 911 and the gas utility from outside. Do not operate switches, flames or appliances. Carbon monoxide has no smell, so alarms matter. Have the heating equipment inspected after clearance. Never use a stove or oven for heat.
Does Gotham Home Services serve my area?
Yes. Gotham Home Services serves Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island and Long Island.
How do I get a quote?
Call (516) 348-5145 or request a quote online. A technician diagnoses the problem on site and gives a written quote before any approved work begins.