Smell gas from your stove? Don't ignore it. The 4 causes, when it's an emergency, and what to do now. SF Bay Area gas stove repair, same- or next-day. Our licensed technicians at FixitBay LLC provide professional appliance repair across San Francisco, the Peninsula, and North Bay with same-day and next-day visits and a 180-day warranty.
Our licensed technicians have years of hands-on experience diagnosing and repairing all major appliance brands including Whirlpool, Samsung, LG, GE, Bosch, KitchenAid, Maytag, Frigidaire, Kenmore, Sub-Zero, Viking, Thermador, Miele, and Wolf. Whether you live in San Francisco, Daly City, San Bruno, Millbrae, Mill Valley, Sausalito, or any of the surrounding Bay Area communities, our team is ready to help.
Every FixitBay LLC repair comes with a transparent $80 diagnostic fee that is fully credited toward your repair cost when you decide to proceed. All work is backed by our comprehensive 180-day warranty on parts and labor, so you can have peace of mind long after our technician leaves your home.
Related services: gas stove repair, oven and range repair, and appliance repair in San Francisco.
Need professional help? Call (760) 543-5733 or book online for same-day and next-day visits.
Safety first: if you smell gas, stop using the stove, ventilate the room, and if the odor is strong, leave and call PG&E or 911 from outside. Once the area is clear and you have traced the leak to a fitting or valve on the appliance, that repair belongs to a licensed technician. FixitBay LLC services gas stoves and ranges across San Francisco, the Peninsula and Marin, licensed in California by the Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS #51001). The diagnostic is $80, credited toward the repair, with a written estimate first and a 180-day warranty on parts and labor. Book same-day or next-day.
Natural gas itself is odorless. Utilities add mercaptan, a chemical that smells like rotten eggs or strong sulfur, as a warning. PG&E uses this same odorant across the entire SF Bay Area. If you detect that rotten-egg smell - even faintly - take it seriously. A brief whiff when lighting a burner is normal; a persistent or strong smell anywhere is an emergency.
Yes. Gas can leak from the flex line connecting the stove to the wall valve, from a worn shutoff valve, from a failed regulator, or from a corroded threaded connection - even with all burners off. If you smell gas with everything off, this is more serious than a smell during ignition. Evacuate and call PG&E 1-800-743-5000 from outside.
Very quickly. Natural gas in air at 5-15% concentration is explosive. In an enclosed SF apartment or kitchen, dangerous levels can build within 10-20 minutes. Never delay evacuation to investigate the source. Get everyone out first, then call 911 from outside the building.
Yes. A leaking or poorly burning gas stove can give off carbon monoxide, a gas with no color and no smell. The rotten-egg mercaptan odorant warns you about the gas leak but never about the CO. The U.S. CDC ties more than 400 deaths a year to unintentional, non-fire carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep a working CO detector near the kitchen, and after any gas-smell event have a licensed technician confirm a clean blue flame.
Never. In California, gas line work must be performed by a licensed technician. Improper gas line repairs void your homeowner insurance, are illegal without proper licensing, and can kill people. FixitBay LLC technicians are licensed CA Major Appliance Technicians (BHGS License #51001), trained in gas appliance safety. PG&E is the only entity that touches the meter and main supply line.
To give you an exact gas stove safety inspection cost, we perform a diagnostic first. The diagnostic fee is $80 residential ($100 commercial). After the diagnostic we provide a written repair estimate. Once you approve the repair, the $80 is included in the total cost. Typical SF Bay Area gas stove flex line replacement runs from $140, shutoff valve replacement from $180, and full safety inspection with leak detection certificate from $160. We provide a 180-day warranty on parts and labor.
A 1-2 second smell of gas just before ignition is normal on older stoves - unburned gas escapes before the spark catches. If the smell lasts more than 2-3 seconds, if the burner takes multiple clicks to ignite, or if the smell persists after the burner is lit, the igniter or burner head needs service. Persistent ignition delay is a safety issue that worsens over time.
PG&E gas emergency: 1-800-743-5000. Available 24/7. They will dispatch a service crew at no charge, shut off your gas at the meter if needed, and tag the appliance. Do NOT call PG&E from inside the building if you smell gas - leave first, then call from outside. For commercial buildings call 911 first, then PG&E.
Annually - especially for SF and Daly City flats and pre-1960 housing where gas lines have been retrofitted multiple times. Marin County homes with rural gas lines (Fairfax, San Anselmo, Ross) should also inspect annually. After any kitchen remodel, new stove installation, or earthquake (M4.0+), schedule an inspection. Replace gas flex lines every 10-15 years regardless of visible condition.