A gas smell near a cooktop or rangetop calls for a specific, immediate sequence of actions, not a diagnostic session. This is one of the few situations in a kitchen where the right response is the same regardless of which Dacor model, generation, or configuration is involved.
Stop and Do This First
Turn off any burner control that is on, but do not attempt to relight anything, and do not operate any other switch in the room — including a light switch, a range hood, or anything electrical — since a spark from an ordinary switch can ignite gas that has already accumulated. Leave the room’s existing lights as they are rather than turning any switch on or off.
Shut Off the Gas Supply
If you know where the gas shutoff valve is for the cooktop or the house, and it is safe to reach quickly, shut it off. If the smell is strong, if you cannot immediately locate the shutoff, or if you have any hesitation, prioritize getting everyone out of the house over finding the valve.
Ventilate and Leave
Open windows and doors on your way out if you can do so quickly and safely, and leave the house. Do not search for the source of the leak yourself, and do not use a phone, light switch, or any electrical device inside the house — step outside first.
Call From Outside
Once you are safely away from the house, call your gas utility’s emergency line or 911 if the smell is strong or persistent. This is the appropriate first call, not a repair company — gas utilities typically respond to reported leaks quickly and at no charge, and confirming there is no active leak is the necessary first step before any appliance repair can safely happen.
If You Have a Gas Detector Installed
A home gas detector alarming is treated exactly the same way as smelling gas yourself — leave immediately, do not investigate the source, and call from outside. A detector that alarms only briefly and then stops is still worth reporting to the gas utility, since an intermittent reading can indicate a small leak that comes and goes rather than one that has resolved on its own.
Why This Matters More Than Diagnosing the Cooktop Yourself
It can be tempting to try to narrow down whether the smell is coming from one specific burner versus the supply line before calling anyone, especially if it seems faint. Resist that instinct. Natural gas is odorized specifically so it is detectable at concentrations well below what is actually dangerous, which means a smell you can notice is an early warning, not proof the situation is minor — and the safe response is the same regardless of how strong or faint the smell seems.
After the Gas Company Has Cleared It
Once the utility or fire department has confirmed it is safe, and if the issue traces back to the cooktop itself rather than a house gas line, that is when an appliance repair visit makes sense. Visit our Dacor cooktop repair page or our contact page once it is safe to schedule a diagnostic.