Owning a home comes with lots of safety concerns, but gas safety is one of the most important things to keep in mind in your day-to-day life.

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Ignoring natural gas safety can cause health risks to your family — including death — and can cause explosions or fires. Here are gas safety tips you need to know to stay safe.

Signs of a Gas Leak

Recognizing the signs of a gas leak can help you get your family out of your home before the situation gets serious. If you have a gas stove or any gas appliances in your home, you should be aware of these signs. Potential indicators of a gas leak include:

• Rotten egg smell
• Hissing sound near gas lines
• Unexplained increase in gas use
• Bubbles in standing water outside your home
• Unexplained death of plants inside your home
• Feeling ill for no reason, including headaches, nausea, breathing difficulties, dizziness and fatigue

If you notice these signs, leave the house immediately and call 911 or the emergency line for your gas company.

Gas Safety Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

Being aware of potential gas issues can help you avoid dangerous situations. The following gas safety tips can help you stay safe.

Use Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you have natural gas running into your home, you need a carbon monoxide detector on every level. When a gas-powered appliance doesn't work correctly, it can produce carbon monoxide, which is colorless, odorless and invisible. Breathing carbon monoxide can cause physical symptoms to the point of losing consciousness and possibly death. Having working carbon monoxide detectors in your home is the only way to know if you have a carbon monoxide leak.

Practice Stove, Burner and Grill Safety

If you have a gas stove, ensure you turn the knobs off completely to avoid letting gas leak into your home. Clean the burners well after each use to make sure there's no grease, oil or food debris that could start a fire the next time you light the burner. Clear the area completely of flammable objects before using your stove, and never leave the stove unattended while in use. If you have a gas grill, never use it indoors. Instead, position it outdoors away from any structures.

Store and Use Combustibles Safely

Paint, solvents, gasoline and other combustible materials should never be stored near your gas appliances. Store them in proper containers away from ignition sources. When using combustible products, such as varnish or paint stripper, shut off gas appliances because pilot lights could ignite the vapors. Ventilate the area well while using the products.

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Follow Space Heater Guidelines

Space heaters can help keep you warm, but they're also potentially hazardous if you don't use them correctly. Keep space heaters away from stored gasoline or other combustibles. If you use a gas space heater, choose a vented model to decrease the risk of issues. Only use the type of fuel specified by the space heater manufacturer.

Locate Your Gas Shut-Off Valve

Your home has a main gas shut-off valve that you should use in case of an emergency. Locate the gas shut-off valve now so you know exactly where it is in case you need it. The valve is typically on the main gas line coming into your home before it reaches the first gas appliance. You should simply need to turn the valve to shut off all gas going into your home.

Take Care of Pilot Lights

Gas appliances use a pilot light as the ignition source when needed. The flame burns constantly, but it can go out if there's an issue with the appliance. In older appliances without as many safety features, the gas that runs to the pilot light can continue even when the light goes out, which can create a dangerous buildup of gas. If you need to relight the pilot light, wait at least 5 minutes to let all the gas disperse. If your pilot light keeps going out, call a professional to identify and repair the issue.

Maintain Gas Appliances

Schedule regular, professional maintenance on your gas appliances to ensure they're in good working order. The technician can check for leaks, run tests and identify malfunctioning parts on the gas appliances before they cause a risk to your family. Making little repairs now can stop them from becoming worse, which usually costs more to fix and could put you at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or fires. They'll also check the ventilation system to ensure the gas appliances are operating correctly.

Some appliances need additional maintenance. For example, a gas fireplace needs to be inspected and cleaned every year. Gas furnaces need new air filters regularly, and they need to have all components inspected by an HVAC professional.