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Gas Smell Near a Dryer: What to Do Right Now
If you smell gas near your dryer, do not investigate. Follow these steps, in this order, and stay out until you are told it is safe.
Last reviewed October 1, 2026. Written and reviewed by the Plano Dryer Pros team. How we create content
If you smell gas near your dryer, leave the house at once. Do not use light switches, the dryer or other appliances. From a safe distance, call 911 and Atmos Energy at 866.322.8667, and stay out until you are told it is safe. Do not try to find the leak. Have the dryer checked before it is used again.
Key takeaways
- Leave first. Do not stop to look for the leak or switch anything on or off.
- Call 911 and Atmos Energy at 866.322.8667 from a safe distance, outside the house.
- Stay out until you are told it is safe, and do not use the dryer until it has been checked.
- Natural gas has an added odor that smells like rotten eggs, so treat that smell as a leak.
Do these things now
- Leave the house immediately, and take everyone with you, including pets if you can do so without delay.
- Do not switch anything on or off: no light switches, no dryer, no garage door, no flame, no lighter.
- Call from a safe distance: from outside, away from the house, call 911 and Atmos Energy at 866.322.8667.
- Stay outside and keep others away from the house until the utility or the fire department says it is safe.
- Do not go back in for belongings, even if the smell seems to fade.
What should I do if I smell gas near my dryer?
Leave the house at once and take everyone with you. Do not use switches, the dryer or a flame. From a safe distance outside, call 911 and Atmos Energy at 866.322.8667, then stay out until you are told it is safe. Do not stop to look for the leak, and do not go back in.
Do not do these things
- Do not try to find the leak yourself or test with a flame
- Do not run the dryer, even to see whether the smell goes away
- Do not use a phone, lighter or electrical switch inside the house
- Do not wait to see whether the smell passes
- Do not reopen the gas valve or restart the dryer until it has been checked
Is it safe to use my phone to call from inside?
It is better to leave first and call from outside, away from the house. The standard advice is to avoid switches, flames and electrical devices near a suspected leak, and leaving takes priority over everything else. Once you are at a safe distance, call 911 and Atmos Energy at 866.322.8667.
Why gas smells like rotten eggs
Natural gas has no smell of its own. Utilities add a harmless odorant, usually described as a rotten-egg smell, so a leak is easy to notice. If you smell it near a gas dryer, treat it as a leak until a professional says otherwise.
Is it gas, or something else?
| What you smell | Possible source | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Strong rotten-egg or sulfur smell | A gas leak | Leave and call 911 and Atmos Energy |
| A faint sulfur smell near drains | Possibly a dry drain trap or sewer gas, but it can also be gas | Treat it as gas until a professional says otherwise |
| Hot dust or burning lint | Lint scorching in the dryer or vent | Stop and unplug the dryer: see the burning smell guide |
| Burning rubber | A slipping belt or a seized pulley | Stop the dryer and have it checked |
| A sharp plastic or electrical smell | Overheating wiring or a motor | Stop the dryer and unplug it, then call |
How do I tell a gas smell from a burning smell?
A gas leak smells like rotten eggs or sulfur, while a burning smell is hot dust, scorched lint, rubber or plastic. If you are not sure, treat it as gas: leave and call. A burning smell without a rotten-egg note means stop and unplug the dryer. See dryer smells like burning.
After the all-clear
- Wait for the utility or the fire department to confirm it is safe to go back in.
- Do not use the dryer until a technician has checked its gas parts.
- A dryer technician checks the igniter, valve coils, flame sensor, burner and connections on the dryer.
- A licensed plumber handles the gas piping, the shutoff valve and the flexible connector.
Can I use my dryer after the smell goes away?
No. A smell that fades does not mean the cause is gone. Wait for the utility to clear the area, then have the dryer’s gas parts and connections checked by a professional before it is used again. Anything wrong with the gas piping or connector is a licensed plumber’s job.
How to be ready
- Keep a working carbon monoxide alarm near the bedrooms
- Know where your gas shutoff valve is, but in an emergency leave first
- Keep the dryer vent clear, and vent outdoors only
- Keep flammable liquids and clutter away from the dryer and its gas connection
- Have a technician check the dryer’s gas parts if you ever notice a weak or odd flame
More in the gas dryer FAQ and the dryer vent safety guide.
Sources
- Atmos Energy gas emergency guidance (866.322.8667)
- Your dryer’s installation and service manual, which governs over any general guidance on this page
- Plano Dryer Pros estimates of typical local repair pricing, checked against national consumer cost guides for context. See our Editorial Policy.
Frequently asked questions
Who do I call about a gas smell?
Call 911 and Atmos Energy at 866.322.8667 from a safe distance outside the house. The utility can check for a leak and make the area safe. A dryer technician or a licensed plumber comes afterward, for the dryer’s own parts or the gas piping.
Is a small gas smell still an emergency?
Treat any smell of gas as a possible leak. A faint smell can be a small leak that grows, and you cannot judge the size from the smell. Leave and call, even if it seems minor, and let a professional decide.
Can a gas dryer leak when it is not running?
A leak can come from a loose or damaged connector, the shutoff valve or the piping, whether or not the dryer is running. If you smell gas when the dryer is off, the response is the same: leave the house and call.
Should I close the gas valve before I leave?
Leave first. Do not spend time looking for the valve if the smell is strong. Know where the valve is for non-emergency work, such as servicing, but in an emergency the priority is getting everyone out and calling from a safe distance.
Does a carbon monoxide alarm detect a gas leak?
No. A carbon monoxide alarm detects the combustion gas, not a natural gas leak. It does not replace your nose or a gas detector, and a gas smell is still an emergency. Keep a working CO alarm anyway, near the bedrooms.
How do I prevent a gas smell from my dryer?
Have the dryer’s gas parts and connector checked if anything seems off, keep the vent clear, vent outdoors and avoid moving the dryer without a pro. A kinked or old flexible connector is a common weak point, and a licensed plumber replaces it.
Get your dryer working again
Call and a person will answer, or request a repair online. You get the full price in writing before any work starts.