Gas Leak Detection & Repair
A gas leak is one of those problems you can't afford to sit on. Natural gas and LPG are both highly flammable, and a slow leak inside a wall or under a floor can build up without you noticing until it's dangerous. If you've caught a whiff of that rotten-egg smell, heard hissing near an appliance, or your gas bill has crept up for no reason, our licensed Canning Vale plumbers can find the source and make it safe. It's not something to poke around at yourself.
Gas leak detection is precise, methodical work — and in Western Australia it must be carried out by a licensed gasfitter. We use proper electronic detection equipment and pressure testing rather than guesswork, so we can pinpoint exactly where gas is escaping without tearing your home apart. That combination of the right tools and the right licence is what turns a frightening situation into a solved one.
Know the warning signs of a gas leak
Gas suppliers add a strong odour (that unmistakable rotten-egg or sulphur smell) to natural gas and LPG precisely so leaks are easier to notice. But smell isn't the only clue, and some leaks are subtle. Watch for these:
- A sulphur or rotten-egg smell indoors, near the meter, or around appliances
- Hissing or whistling near gas lines, fittings or the meter box
- Yellow or orange flames on burners instead of a clean blue
- Higher gas bills with no change in how much you're using
- Dead or wilting plants near an outdoor gas line
- Physical symptoms like headaches, dizziness or nausea that ease when you leave the house
What to do if you suspect a leak right now
If you can smell gas, act calmly but quickly. Turn off the gas at the meter if you can reach it safely. Open doors and windows to ventilate. Don't switch anything electrical on or off, don't light matches or lighters, and keep any flames away. If the smell is strong, leave the house and stay outside. Then call your gas supplier's emergency line and get a licensed gasfitter out. We've put together a plain-English guide on exactly what to do in our gas leak safety article — worth a read before you ever need it, because in the moment it's easy to panic.
How we find the leak
Once it's safe, we get to work locating the source. Rather than opening up walls hopefully, we isolate sections of the gas system and pressure-test them to narrow down where gas is escaping. Electronic gas detectors then confirm the exact fitting, joint or length of pipe at fault. This targeted approach means we usually only need to access the problem area, keeping disruption and cost down rather than chasing the leak across your whole home.
Common places leaks develop
- Corroded or aged pipework, especially in older Gosnells and Thornlie homes
- Loose or worn appliance connections behind cooktops and heaters
- Failed seals and fittings at joints
- Damaged pipe caused by garden work, renovations or ground movement
- Faulty valves or regulators at the meter or LPG cylinders
Make-safe and permanent repair
Our first priority is always to make the situation safe — isolating the gas so there's no ongoing risk to you or your family. From there we carry out a permanent repair, whether that's replacing a length of pipe, remaking a joint, swapping a faulty valve, or reconnecting an appliance properly. Once repaired, the whole system is re-tested and, where required, we issue a Gas Compliance Certificate confirming everything's back to standard. That certificate is your assurance the leak is genuinely fixed, not just patched over.
If the leak turns out to be a faulty appliance rather than the pipework — an old gas hot water unit, say — we'll talk you through whether repair or replacement makes more sense. Sometimes an ageing unit that keeps developing faults is better swapped out entirely, and we can help with gas hot water replacement too, so you're not juggling two trades.
Fast local response across the south-east
Because we're based in the area, we can reach Canning Vale, Willetton, Riverton, Southern River, Harrisdale, Huntingdale and surrounds quickly — and gas is exactly the kind of problem that shouldn't wait around. Gas emergencies are part of our emergency plumbing service, so if you're worried outside normal hours, we can still help. There's no sense lying awake next to a suspected leak when a licensed gasfitter can make it safe.
Every job is done by a licensed, insured gasfitter with upfront pricing, so there are no nasty surprises on the invoice when a stressful situation is finally sorted. We'd rather you called and it turned out to be nothing than ignored a warning sign that mattered.
Preventing leaks before they start
Not every gas leak arrives with drama. Ageing pipework, connections that loosen with vibration, and appliances installed years ago all develop faults gradually. If your home is older, or you've inherited gas work you're not sure about, a check-over by a licensed gasfitter is a sensible bit of peace of mind. We can inspect connections, pressure-test the system, and flag anything on the way out before it becomes a problem. It's the same logic as servicing anything else that matters — a small planned check beats an unwelcome surprise. If you're already having other plumbing looked at, it's easy to fold a gas safety check into a broader maintenance visit so it's all done at once.
Smell gas or suspect a leak? Make yourself safe first, then request a quote or call our licensed Canning Vale plumbers to detect and repair it.
Frequently asked questions
What does a gas leak smell like?
Gas suppliers add a strong rotten-egg or sulphur odour to natural gas and LPG so leaks are easy to detect. If you notice that smell indoors, near your meter, or around appliances, treat it as a possible leak, ventilate the area, avoid flames and switches, and call a licensed gasfitter.
What should I do first if I smell gas?
Stay calm. Turn off the gas at the meter if you can do so safely, open windows and doors, and avoid using any electrical switches, phones near the leak, or naked flames. If the smell is strong, leave the house, then call your gas supplier's emergency line and a licensed gasfitter.
How do you find a gas leak without pulling my house apart?
We isolate sections of your gas system and pressure-test them to narrow down the leak, then use electronic gas detectors to pinpoint the exact fitting or pipe. This targeted method means we usually only need to access the affected area, keeping disruption to a minimum.
Will I get proof the leak is fixed?
Yes. After repairing the leak we re-test the whole system and, where required, issue a Gas Compliance Certificate confirming the installation meets WA standards. That's your assurance the work is safe and done to code, not just patched.