This Is an Emergency: Act First, Diagnose Later
If your boiler is leaking and you can also smell gas, treat this as a life-safety emergency rather than a maintenance problem. Natural gas in your home, especially alongside a water leak that may be affecting electrical components, is a serious hazard and is not something to investigate yourself.
Natural gas is given a deliberate rotten-egg or sulphur smell so you can detect it. If you notice that smell, hear a hissing sound near the boiler or gas line, or feel unwell with headaches, dizziness, or nausea, do not wait to see if it gets worse. Your safety comes before the boiler.
The steps below are the same advice given by FortisBC and emergency services. Follow them in order, and only think about repairs once everyone is safe and the professionals have made the situation safe.
The Exact Steps to Take Right Now
1. Get everyone out of the home immediately. Move all people and pets outside to fresh air. Do not stop to gather belongings.
2. Do not touch electrical switches or anything that could create a spark. Do not turn lights on or off, do not unplug anything, and do not use the doorbell. A spark can ignite gas.
3. Do not use your phone inside the home. No phones, no matches, no lighters, no appliances. Avoid anything with a flame or electrical ignition.
4. If you can do so safely and quickly on your way out, open a door or window to let gas disperse, but do not go out of your way or linger to do this.
5. Once outside and well away from the building, call FortisBC's 24-hour emergency line at 1-800-663-9911, or call 911. Let them make the property safe.
6. Do not go back inside until FortisBC or emergency services tell you it is safe to do so.
After the Gas Is Made Safe: Call Us for the Boiler
Once FortisBC or the fire service has isolated the gas and confirmed your home is safe to re-enter, the underlying boiler fault still needs to be diagnosed and repaired before the appliance is put back into service. That is where GasBoilers.ca comes in.
A gas smell around a boiler can come from several sources, including a loose or failed gas connection, a faulty gas valve, a cracked component, or combustion problems. Combined with a water leak, there may be more than one issue at play, and corrosion or water ingress can be a contributing factor. Only a licensed gas fitter should inspect, test for leaks, and return the boiler to safe operation.
Do not attempt to relight or run the boiler yourself after a gas event. Leave it off until our Red Seal gas fitter has inspected it. When your home has been made safe, call GasBoilers.ca at 604-359-1081 and we will get the boiler properly diagnosed and repaired.
Carbon Monoxide: The Hidden Danger
A leaking, faulty boiler can also produce carbon monoxide, an invisible, odourless gas that is dangerous and potentially fatal. Unlike a natural-gas leak, you cannot smell carbon monoxide, which is why a working CO alarm near your sleeping areas is essential in any home with gas appliances.
If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, treat it exactly like the gas-leak steps above: get everyone out into fresh air immediately, do not ignore it as a false alarm, and call 911 or FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 from outside. Symptoms of CO exposure include headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and drowsiness, and they can affect several people in the household at once.
After any CO alarm, the boiler must be inspected by a licensed technician before it is used again. Annual boiler maintenance, including a combustion and flue check, is the best defence against carbon monoxide risk. Call 604-359-1081 to book a safety inspection once your home is confirmed safe.