Rochester – October 14, 2026 -- A rotten egg or sulfur smell inside your home should always be treated as a possible gas leak, according to a new HelloNation article featuring Rochester, New York, plumbing expert George Campbell. The piece lays out the early signs of a gas line problem and who is responsible for fixing each part of the system.
Natural gas smells like sulfur only because mercaptan is added
Natural gas has no natural scent. Utility companies add a chemical called mercaptan so leaks can be detected. The article says that smell should never be blamed on another source until it has been investigated.
A hissing sound near a pipe or meter can mean escaping gas
A hiss or faint whistle near a gas appliance, a meter, or an exposed section of pipe can point to gas escaping from a fitting, connection, or valve. Even an intermittent sound should be reported promptly, because the rate of a leak can change without warning.
Dead plants in a line across the yard can reveal a buried leak
Dead or discolored vegetation in a linear pattern may signal a leak from a buried line that has not yet reached the house. Gas escaping underground tends to kill plants directly above the pipe, following its direction.
If you smell gas indoors, leave and call the utility from outside
The article advises leaving immediately and calling the utility company from outside. The utility is responsible for the line from the street to the meter. Interior piping, from the meter to each appliance, falls under a licensed plumber's scope.
Gas line repair inside a home is regulated by local building codes and typically requires permits and inspections. In Rochester and throughout New York State, licensed professionals must perform any modification or repair to a gas system. Unlicensed work can create safety risks and potential liability issues.
Pressure testing pinpoints where a line is leaking
Plumbers isolate sections of the line and introduce measured pressure to look for a drop that indicates escaping gas. Plumbing Experts use this method to confirm the full scope of a problem before starting repairs.
Corroded fittings, cracked connectors and old iron pipe are common culprits
Typical causes include aging fittings that have corroded or loosened, flexible connectors behind appliances that have cracked from movement, and damage from renovation work near the line. Older homes may have galvanized or black iron pipe that has reached the end of its service life.
Plumbing Experts recommend having a licensed plumber review planned work before adding a gas appliance, finishing a basement, or expanding an existing gas system. Additions made without proper sizing and permitting can reduce reliability across the entire system. The article adds that addressing concerns at first detection costs less than dealing with problems left unresolved.