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What is natural gas in a home?

Natural gas is a fossil fuel that naturally occurs as organic material decomposes over hundreds of years and is captured for home and building use. It’s made up of gaseous hydrocarbons with methane along with some other components.

Natural gas is originally colorless and has no odor, so a scent additive like mercaptan is added to make it detectable in case of a leak. This gives it a distinct pungent odor not unlike sulfur.

Gas can be used for heating water, cooking, and a variety of tasks where electricity is not used. It’s normally stored in outside tanks under pressure and must be periodically refilled from a gas provider.

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Home natural gas basics

Gas water heaters