Natural gas itself is odorless. The gas companies add a distinctively unpleasant scent to alert people of unburned gas in the air. If you smell gas, immediately extinguish any live flames. Then look for the faucet handle on the gas line and turn it off--turn it perpendicular to the pipe. Open doors or windows if the smell is strong, but remember that it may take a few minutes for the smell to dissipate. Check all gas appliances if the smell persists. If the pipeline is turned off and you still smell gas, call the local gas company immediately.

2torial #0610: Learn2 Light a Pilot Light (Continued) Discover if it's operating Listen for sounds coming from the appliance. You may hear a rushing or rumbling sound. Put your hand next to the wall of the unit (careful!). It may feel warm. Locate a removable panel on the front side, usually near the bottom. Peer into the peep hole there, if there is one, or remove the panel and look for a blue flame. These signs--a rumbling noise, a warm wall of the unit wall, the presence of a blue flame--all indicate that the appliance is already on. If this is the case, the pilot is already lit--you're done! Now locate the thermostat and adjust it to your desired level of comfort. Okay, you've tried all the above, and there's no heat, no blue flame, no rumbling noise. Therefore the appliance is definitely turned off. Follow the steps below carefully to turn the appliance on again safely. Step 3