Smell gas from your furnace? Learn when it’s safe, when it’s not, and what St. Louis homeowners should do if they notice a gas odor.
If your furnace smells like gas, it’s understandable to feel concerned—especially during a cold St. Louis winter when your heating system is essential. Homeowners often ask: “Can I still run my furnace if I smell gas?”
In most cases, the answer is no, but there are important nuances. Some gas-related odors are normal and temporary, while others can indicate a serious safety issue that requires immediate attention.
Nick was was great! He provided great service, explained everything, and was patient and kind.I definitely recommend using Hoffman!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Marilyn! We're glad to hear that Nick provided you with excellent service and made your experience enjoyable. We appreciate your recommendation!
The whole team was great, professional and friendly. Scheduling was easy and well organized, they had many options for different price points and financing options. Thank you!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the thoughtful review, Jasmine! We appreciate your support and continued business.
Love that it’s the same technician every time. Let’s me know what he found and any concerns he might have regarding our units. Great customer service.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Theresa! We're glad to hear you appreciate having the same technician and the communication about your units. Your feedback on our customer service means a lot to us!
From the phone to the completion of the job everyone is so polite and informative. I had Giovani as our representative and he was very informative and professional, and knew exactly what the problem was. Thanks so much.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the kind review, Frank! We appreciate you and your business.
Zach did an excellent job! Always courteous and friendly. We would highly recommend calling Thomas Hoffmann HVAC for any heating and cooling needs.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Allan! We're glad to hear that Zach provided excellent service and appreciate your recommendation for Thomas Hoffmann HVAC.
Was able to locate the problem right away and replace a switch and add Freon very nice job by this employee. I will recommend Thomas Hoffman for future references.
Response from the owner:Thank you, William! We're glad to hear that our team was able to quickly address the issue and that you had a positive experience with Thomas. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
I had Nick come out. He was awesome. Very knowledgeable, prompt and helpful. I will definitely recommend Thomas Hoffmann HVAC to others in need of HVAC support.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Jack! We're glad to hear that Nick provided you with excellent service. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to assisting you and others in the future.
From our initial quote until the new furnace and AC were completed, everything was smooth and efficient. Zachary and Giovanni were excellent on-site, taking time to explain the installation as well as leaving the home clean. Thank you Thomas Hoffmann team
Response from the owner:Thank you! We're glad to hear that the installation process was smooth and efficient. Zachary and Giovanni will be pleased to know their efforts made a positive impact. We appreciate your kind words about the team!
Update 4/6/26: Zach Sperling is such a pleasant and knowledgeable technician that I recommend him highly. Thomas Heating has been a wonderful company to work with in my maintenance plan. If you are looking for a reputable company, look no more.
This company is so responsive that I love them. They respond immediately, and I trust them to tell me what needs to be done. I haven’t been steered wrong yet. They are genuinely nice to work with and honest. I use their maintenance program which I highly recommend.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words, we truly appreciate your trust in us and are glad to hear about your positive experience with our services.
work good but got at least 6 messages from them very annoying
Response from the owner:Thank you for your feedback, Harold. We appreciate your input and understand how too many messages can be frustrating. We'll work on improving that experience for you.
Nick was great! He came right out and was able to solve the problem fairly easily. He communicated well and helped us prevent a future problem as well.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the review, Philip! We are happy to hear you had a pleasant experience working with us.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Pat, for your kind words about Giovanni; we appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear that he made a positive impression.
They have never failed to fix my hvac problems. These folks are top tier.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the wonderful feedback, Greg! We're glad to hear that you've had such positive experiences with our team. Providing timely and effective service is our priority, and we're here whenever you need us. Looking forward to assisting you again!
Giovanni was very professional, helpful, patient and helped me figure out the issue, if it was covered under warranty, and next steps. Great overall experience and much appreciated.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Amy! We're glad to hear that Giovanni provided you with such professional and helpful service. Your appreciation means a lot to us!
Always professional and thorough whenever they service our home. We have used Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating multiple times since we moved into our home and will continue to use them in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the thoughtful review, Joe. We appreciate you and your business!
0 stars if I could. Bought a faulty (not to mention overpriced) surface igniter, called back five minutes later after installing, of course they didn’t stand behind their part. Go to Grainger instead. Same (working) part, half the price.
Response from the owner:Hi there. I am unable to locate your customer profile. Please give our office a call at 314-471-7625 so we can get this figured out for you.
My furnace was not working. A very nice gentleman came out this morning and fixed the problem and now I have much needed heat. He was very professional and courteous. I will definitely be using them again when the need arises.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the positive feedback! We're glad to hear that you were pleased with our prompt and friendly service. We look forward to assisting you again in the future!
I will always call Hoffmans for my air and heat needs. They were out to my daughters house that day and fixed it. It was right before the weekend storm with below zero temps the next day. They saved my daughter and grandbabies. I could never thank them more.
Response from the owner:We are so happy to hear that we could help! Thank you for the kind review.
Snow and drifting snow covered intake and out take vents causing the furnace emergency to shut off furnace. Cleaned off the driftibg/ snow off roof and vents furnace works perfect now. Thank you and great job Nick.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the great review, Scott! We appreciate your support.
5 stars! Nick was here to fix my heater within 2 hours of my call. He explained the problem to me thoroughly and got the job done quickly & professionally. Thank you so much!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the kind review, Jennifer! Glad we could help.
Extremely thorough and educational. They do a wonderful job of explaining everything and making sure I was comfortable knowing how the systems worked in my house!
Response from the owner:Thanks for the great review, Matthew! We appreciate your support.
I noticed a strange noise that I was concerned was linked to my furnace. I called Thomas Hoffman Heating & Cooling and Nick came right out. He was very thorough checking all components. Thankfully all checked out for us this visit. Definitely recommend Thomas Hoffman Heating & Cooling!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the kind review, Abby! We appreciate your business and look forward to servicing you in the future.
Thomas Hoffman is a wonderful company to work with. Techs are knowledgeable, personable & efficient.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Christine, for your kind words about our team; we appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear you had a positive experience!
Hoffman plumbing came out to help with some of my plumbing problems. They were amazing. I wish I would have called them first
What Does “Smelling Gas” Actually Mean?
Not all “gas smells” are the same, and the source matters. Natural gas itself is odorless. Utility companies add a chemical called mercaptan, which produces a strong, rotten-egg-like, sulfur-like odor, so leaks are easily detected.
Homeowners may notice:
A brief gas odor when the furnace starts
A lingering sulfur smell near the furnace
A gas smell elsewhere in the home
When a Gas Smell May Be Normal
A Brief Odor When the Furnace First Turns On
It’s sometimes normal to notice a short, faint gas smell when:
The furnace fires up after being off for a long time
The system is starting at the beginning of the heating season
This odor should:
Be mild
Last only a few seconds
Disappear quickly once the furnace is running
If the smell goes away and does not return, it’s usually not a cause for concern.
When It Is Not Safe to Run Your Furnace
A Strong or Persistent Rotten Egg Smell
If you smell a strong, sulfur-like odor that:
Lingers
Gets stronger
Is noticeable away from the furnace
You should not continue running your furnace.
This may indicate:
A gas leak
A failing gas valve or connection
A problem with the furnace burner assembly
You Notice Physical Symptoms
If anyone in the home experiences:
Headaches
Dizziness
Nausea
Fatigue
Leave the home and contact your gas utility provider right away. These symptoms should never be ignored.
What to Do If You Smell Gas in Your Home
If the smell is strong or persistent:
Do not run the furnace
Do not use electrical switches or open flames
Ventilate the area if possible
Leave the home
Contact your gas utility provider
Then call a licensed HVAC professional
Why St. Louis Homeowners Trust Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating
Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC is a locally owned and operated St. Louis HVAC company with experience diagnosing furnace issues safely and correctly. Homeowners choose us for:
If your furnace smells like gas—or you’re unsure whether what you’re noticing is normal—it’s best to have it checked by a professional. Contact Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC by calling us at (314) 471-7625 or filling out our online contact form.
24/7 Service Call Now
At Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating, we pride ourselves on being a locally owned and operated HVAC company. With more than 30 years of experience and a master technician and mechanical engineer as our owner, we can replace, repair, and maintain your business or home’s HVAC system.
