Yes — extremely. A gas leak from a water heater can cause fire, explosion, or carbon monoxide exposure. If you smell gas, leave the house immediately, call the gas utility or 911 from outside, and do not flip any switches, use your phone indoors, or light anything on the way out.

What to Do Right Now

  1. Get everyone and any pets out of the building.
  2. Do not touch electrical switches, appliances, or garage door openers. A spark is all it takes.
  3. Do not use your phone inside. Call from outside or from a neighbor’s.
  4. Call New Mexico Gas Company or 911 first, then call us for the repair.
  5. Do not go back in until the utility or fire department says it is safe.

The Warning Signs

  • Rotten egg or sulfur smell near the heater — the odorant added to natural gas
  • Hissing near the gas line or control valve
  • A pilot light that will not stay lit, or repeated ignition failures
  • Yellow or flickering flame instead of steady blue — a sign of incomplete combustion and possible carbon monoxide
  • Soot or scorching around the burner area or vent
  • Dead vegetation above an underground gas line
  • Physical symptoms — headache, dizziness, nausea, or fatigue that improves when you leave the house

Carbon Monoxide Is the Quieter Danger

A gas leak you can smell. Carbon monoxide from incomplete combustion or a blocked flue you cannot — it is odorless and colorless, and its symptoms mimic the flu. Working CO detectors on every level of the house are essential in any home with gas appliances. If an alarm sounds, everyone goes outside and you call 911.

Why It Happens

Corroded or loosened connections, a failing gas control valve, damaged supply lines, improper past installation, or a blocked or disconnected flue. Older units and past DIY work are common factors in the Albuquerque homes we see.

After the Emergency

The heater needs professional inspection to determine whether repair is safe or replacement is the responsible answer. Annual maintenance that checks combustion, venting, and connections prevents most of this.

Contact B. Carlson — 24/7 emergency service across the metro.