If you smell natural gas or reasonably suspect a gas leak in your Richmond rental, leave the area immediately. Once you are outside and away from the suspected leak, call 911.
Do not stay inside to find the source, check an appliance, open windows, relight anything or operate electrical equipment. Suspected gas is an emergency stop condition, not a resident troubleshooting task.
What should I do if I smell gas?
- Leave immediately. Get everyone out of the home or affected area.
- Avoid anything that could create a spark. Do not turn lights, switches or appliances on or off.
- Do not use a phone or flashlight in the affected area.
- Call 911 once you are outside and away from the suspected leak.
- Stay out until emergency responders or the gas utility say it is safe to return.
Do not stop to shut off power, operate a gas valve, relight a pilot, open windows or inspect a furnace, water heater, range, dryer, fireplace or other gas appliance.
For PMI James River's broader emergency guidance, including what counts as an emergency and what to do after the immediate life-safety steps, use our rental emergency quick-reference.
What does natural gas smell like?
Natural gas itself is colorless and odorless. Utilities add an odorant that is commonly described as smelling like rotten eggs so a leak can be recognized more easily.
Richmond Gas Works also identifies unusual hissing, whistling or roaring as possible warning signs. If you notice a possible sign of a leak, leave rather than looking for more evidence or trying to locate the source.
Who should I call in the Richmond area?
Call 911 from a safe location first.
Richmond Gas Works serves the City of Richmond and portions of Henrico and Chesterfield Counties. Its gas emergency line is 804-646-4646. If Richmond Gas Works is not your utility, contact your gas provider from a safe location after leaving the affected area.
You do not need to remain inside or delay calling 911 while determining which utility serves the home.
Is a gas smell the same as carbon monoxide?
No. Carbon monoxide has no smell, color or taste. A rotten-egg odor is associated with the odorant added to natural gas, not with carbon monoxide.
If a carbon monoxide alarm is giving its CO emergency signal, leave the home and follow our carbon monoxide alarm guidance.
What should I report after the home is cleared?
After emergency responders or the gas utility say the property is safe, update PMI James River through your Rentvine resident portal.
Tell us where you noticed the odor or other warning sign, who responded, whether gas service was shut off, whether responders identified an appliance or system, and any instructions they gave about equipment that should not be used.
Do not restart or relight equipment that responders or the utility identified as unsafe.
For other household issues, use the PMI James River resident troubleshooting library or the broader Resident Maintenance hub.
Published: August 31, 2026
