Gas Leak? Signs & What to Do Immediately

If you smell gas, act immediately: don't use anything that could spark, open doors and windows, turn off the gas at the meter if it's safe to do so, get everyone outside, and call a licensed gas fitter from a safe distance. If the smell is strong or you feel unwell, leave the property first and call from outside.

Look, nobody wants to think about a gas leak until it's happening. But natural gas is explosive and breathing it in isn't good for you, so this isn't something you can just ignore and hope it sorts itself out. We've put together what you actually need to know — what to look for, what to do straight away, and the stuff you absolutely should not do.

Signs of a gas leak

Natural gas that gets piped to your home through ATCO here in Perth doesn't actually smell like anything on its own. They add a sulphur or rotten-egg scent so you've got a fighting chance of noticing if something's gone wrong. Here's what you should be keeping an eye (and ear and nose) out for:

• A rotten-egg or sulphur smell — the most common sign
• A hissing or whistling sound near a gas appliance, pipe or meter
• A yellow or orange flame on a burner instead of a clean blue one
• Sooty black marks around an appliance
• Dead or dying plants near an underground gas line outside
• Physical symptoms — headaches, dizziness, nausea or tiredness that ease when you leave the house

What to do immediately

You suspect a leak — now what. Follow these steps in the order we've listed them, and try to keep your head. Panicking and flipping a light switch is honestly more dangerous in those first few seconds than the leak itself might be.

• 1. Don't create a spark or flame. No lighters, matches, cigarettes or naked flames.
• 2. Ventilate. Open doors and windows to let gas escape and fresh air in.
• 3. Turn off the gas. If you can reach the meter safely, turn the supply off at the isolation valve.
• 4. Get everyone out. Move all people and pets outside to fresh air, especially if the smell is strong.
• 5. Call for help from a safe distance. Once you're clear of the property, call a licensed gas fitter to attend. If it's a major leak or you feel unwell, treat it as an emergency and call emergency services.

What NOT to do

Your gut might tell you to do certain things during a gas leak. Your gut is wrong. Do not:

• Switch anything electrical on or off — lights, fans, appliances or the mains. A switch can spark and ignite the gas. Leave lights as they are.
• Use your phone inside the affected area. Make calls once you're outside.
• Light a match or lighter "to check" for the leak.
• Try to find or fix the leak yourself. Gas work is illegal for anyone but a licensed gas fitter in WA — and dangerous.
• Stay inside if the smell is strong. Get out first, worry about the source later.

Why only a licensed gas fitter can help

Here in Western Australia it's actually the law that all gas work gets done by someone licensed — that's enforced by Building and Energy, and there's real reasons for it. Even a small mistake with gas can lead to fire, explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning. Our gas leak detection service exists because a licensed professional has the training and equipment to track down the leak properly, fix it, and make sure everything's sound before you fire up the appliances again.

Same deal with any installation or repair work. New appliance being connected or gas lines being run? That falls under gas plumbing and fitting — definitely not a weekend DIY project. We've got more info on what legally requires a licensed plumber or gas fitter in WA if you're not sure where the line is.

What about carbon monoxide?

Gas leaks aren't the only thing that can hurt you. When an appliance doesn't burn gas properly — you'll usually spot a yellow or orange flame, sooty black marks — it can start producing carbon monoxide. That's a colourless, odourless gas, which is what makes it so sneaky. You literally can't see or smell the stuff. The warning signs come from your body: headaches, dizziness, nausea, feeling tired. If more than one person in the house is getting those symptoms and they get better once you leave, pay attention. Ventilate, get everybody outside, and get a licensed gas fitter to look at the appliance before you use it again. A carbon monoxide alarm is cheap and honestly one of the smartest buys you can make.

Preventing gas leaks

You can cut down the odds a fair bit with some basic habits:

• Have gas appliances serviced regularly by a licensed gas fitter
• Watch for yellow flames and sooty marks, which suggest poor combustion
• Never block the vents on gas appliances
• Consider a carbon monoxide alarm as an added safeguard
• Replace ageing appliances that are becoming unreliable rather than nursing them along

How gas fitters find and fix a leak

When a licensed gas fitter turns up to look for a leak, they're not just wandering around hoping to stumble on it. There's electronic gas detectors, and they'll often apply a leak-detection solution to joints and fittings — bubbles start forming if gas is escaping — plus they run a pressure test on the line to see if it holds. If the pressure drops, something's off. Once they've worked out exactly where the problem is, whether that's a worn connection on an appliance or a corroded fitting or the appliance itself playing up, they fix it and test it all over again. Only once everything passes do they sign off. That's why you should never just turn the supply back on yourself and "see how it goes."

After the emergency

Once the leak's been sorted, don't go turning the gas supply back on yourself. Let the licensed gas fitter give it the all-clear and handle that part. If a dodgy appliance was behind it — an old heater or a gas hot water system for instance — ask them straight up whether it needs fixing or replacing so you don't end up dealing with the same thing next winter.

Smell gas right now? Get everyone outside, then call our licensed Canning Vale gas fitters from a safe distance.

Frequently asked questions