Smell of gas means leave and call from outside
If you smell gas near the appliance, do not operate any switch, leave the building, and call the gas utility or your local emergency number from outside. That is the whole procedure. Do not try to find the source, do not move the appliance to look behind it, and do not switch anything on or off on the way out.
What you find
- A smell of gas near or behind the machine — The most urgent finding, and it has its own procedure.
- The machine was recently moved or pulled out for cleaning — The circumstance that produces most of these, and it is worth stating when you call.
- A burner that lights with a delay or a pop — A combustion problem, which needs attention promptly rather than eventually.
- Yellow rather than blue flame visible at the burner — Incomplete combustion, and a reason to stop using the appliance.
- Soot marks around the appliance or the duct — Evidence that combustion has been poor for some time.
- NEAR MISS: a faint smell for a moment as the burner lights — Common on some machines and quite different from a persistent smell.
Ranked for a gas installation
- A disturbed connector or fitting — First. The appliance gets moved, the connector gets stretched or twisted, and a joint that was sound becomes marginal.
- A burner or ignition problem — Second. It produces delayed lighting, popping and yellow flame, all of which mean combustion is not right.
- A restricted duct affecting combustion — Third. A gas burner needs its exhaust to leave properly, and a blocked duct affects far more than drying times.
- An electrical connection problem — Last on this page, and it is the same question as on any dryer.
Gas first, then everything else
- Deal with any smell of gas before anything else — Nothing on this page comes before leaving and calling from outside.
- Note whether the machine was recently moved — It is the strongest single clue for a gas-side problem.
- Look at the flame colour if it is visible without dismantling — Blue and stable is right; yellow is not.
- Leave the appliance isolated and arrange a visit — Gas fittings are not owner work under any circumstances.
Owner steps
- If you smell gas, leave the building and call from outside — Operate no switch on the way out, and do not go back in to check.
About 5 min
- If there is no smell, switch off the circuit and close the shut-off valve at the wall — It makes the appliance safe to leave while a visit is arranged.
About 10 min
- Note whether the machine has been moved recently and by whom — A connector disturbed during cleaning or delivery is the commonest cause.
Tools: notepadAbout 5 min
- Look for soot marks around the appliance and at the duct outlet — They record poor combustion over a period rather than a single event.
Tools: flashlightAbout 10 min
- STOP before the connector, the burner or any gas fitting is touched — Gas work is for a qualified person and there is no owner version of it.
The gas rules
Safety
If you smell gas, do not operate any switch, leave the building, and call the gas utility or your local emergency number from outside. Never work on a gas fitting. Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel for any other reason, and remember the machine also sits on a branch circuit protected at fifteen or twenty amperes. Never move a gas appliance far enough to strain its connector.
When to call
Call the gas utility or your local emergency number from outside for any smell of gas, before anything else. Call a qualified gas technician for delayed lighting, popping, yellow flame or soot. Say the appliance is a gas dryer and whether it has been moved recently: both facts change who should attend and how quickly.
Nearest pages of this class
Scope of this page
Written for the Maytag dryer class rather than one model line, with gas machines in mind because that is the distinctive hazard. Connector types and burner designs differ by family, and gas work belongs to a qualified person in every case.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
