Gas Leak Detection & Repair

Something like a gas leak? Yeah, that's not one you put off. Natural gas and LPG both catch fire quick, and a slow leak tucked behind a wall or under your floorboards can build up pressure without you even knowing about it. Gets bad enough, you've got a serious problem on your hands. Noticed that sulphur smell hanging around? Hissing sound near the stove? Gas bill gone through the roof for no real reason? Our licensed plumbers over Canning Vale way can figure out where the gas is escaping from and make things safe again. Honestly, trying to suss it out yourself just isn't worth the risk.

Hunting down a gas leak — that's detailed, careful work, and over here in Western Australia it's got to be a licensed gasfitter doing it. We use proper electronic detection equipment and pressure testing, not just having a guess and hoping we get lucky. That's how we work out exactly which fitting or pipe is letting gas slip through without smashing open half your walls. Right gear, right licence, that's what turns a scary situation into one that's actually sorted.

Know the warning signs of a gas leak

Gas suppliers put a strong smell into both natural gas and LPG on purpose — that classic rotten egg or sulphur stink — so you'll notice when something's gone wrong. Your nose isn't always the first clue though, and some leaks creep up on you real slow. Keep an eye out 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

Smelling gas in your place? You want to act fast but still keep your wits about you. Get the gas shut off at the meter if you can reach it without putting yourself in danger. Open up some doors and windows, let the air move through. Don't flick any switches on or off, don't light anything, keep flames well clear of the area. If the smell is strong and obvious, get yourself out and stay out. Ring your gas supplier's emergency line, then get a licensed gasfitter around to look at it properly. We've actually got a straightforward guide on the whole process in our gas leak safety article — worth a read now while you're calm, because once it's happening you tend to forget the obvious stuff.

How we find the leak

Once it's safe to start working, that's when we go hunting for the source. Rather than just opening up walls and hoping we stumble across it, we isolate sections of the gas system one bit at a time and pressure-test them to see where gas is actually getting out. Electronic detectors then tell us exactly which fitting, joint, or section of pipe is the problem. It's targeted work, and that usually means we only need to get into the one spot instead of ripping through your whole house chasing it around — which keeps the mess and the cost down both.

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

First thing we do is make the situation safe — isolating the gas so there's no ongoing risk to you or anyone in the house. After that, we carry out a permanent fix. Could be replacing a section of pipe, re-making a dodgy joint, swapping out a valve that's failed, or reconnecting an appliance properly. Once it's all done, we re-test the whole system and issue a Gas Compliance Certificate where it's needed, confirming everything meets standard. That certificate is your proof the leak is actually fixed, not just covered over with a bit of tape.

Sometimes the leak turns out to be a dodgy appliance rather than the pipework itself — an old gas hot water unit is a common one. If that's the case, we'll walk you through whether repair or full replacement is the smarter call. Honestly, an ageing unit that keeps playing up is sometimes just better off being swapped out altogether, and we handle gas hot water replacement as well so you're not trying to coordinate two different trades.

Fast local response across the south-east

We're based locally, which means we can get to Canning Vale, Willetton, Riverton, Southern River, Harrisdale, Huntingdale and surrounds without a long wait — and gas is exactly the sort of problem that doesn't give you time to mull it over. Gas emergencies are part of our emergency plumbing service, so even outside normal hours we can still come out. There's really no point lying in bed worrying about a possible leak when a licensed gasfitter can come round and make it safe.

Every job is handled by a licensed, insured gasfitter with upfront pricing — so no horrible surprises on the invoice once the stressful bit is finally over. We'd honestly rather you called and it turned out to be nothing than ignored a warning sign that ended up mattering.

Preventing leaks before they start

Not every gas leak shows up with a bang. Old pipework, connections that work loose over time from vibration, appliances that were put in years ago — faults develop gradually. If your home is getting on a bit, or you've inherited gas work that you're not entirely sure about, having a licensed gasfitter do a check-over is just sensible peace of mind. We can look at connections, pressure-test the system, and catch anything that's on its way out before it turns into a problem. Same idea as servicing anything else that matters — a bit of planned maintenance beats an unwelcome surprise. And if you're already getting other plumbing work done, it's easy to tack a gas safety check onto a broader maintenance visit so everything's sorted in one go.

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