If you can smell gas in your home right now, stop reading the rest of this article. Do not use any light switches, do not light a match, do not use your phone inside the house. Get everyone out, and once you are safely outside, call your gas network’s emergency line. Come back to this guide once you are safe, since the rest of it explains exactly what to do next and why urgent Gas Leak Repairs Gold Coast residents can call on immediately matter so much once the emergency call has been made.
Gas leak searches carry some of the highest urgency of any home safety topic, and for good reason. A gas smell is never something to investigate later or wait out. This guide covers what to do in the moment, who to call, what causes the smell, and how quickly a leak needs to be repaired once it’s found.
Is Smelling Gas an Emergency?
Yes, always. Even a faint smell should be treated as a genuine emergency, not something to monitor. Natural gas is odourless on its own, so gas suppliers add a chemical called mercaptan, which produces the distinctive rotten-egg smell, specifically so leaks are noticeable. If you can smell it, gas is present in the air, and that is reason enough to act immediately rather than wait to see if the smell gets stronger.
What Should I Do If I Smell Gas?
Follow these steps in order:
- Do not use any switches, phones, lighters, or naked flames inside the property, since even a small spark can ignite gas in the air
- Open doors and windows on your way out if it is safe and quick to do so, to help ventilate the space
- Leave the building immediately and move to a safe distance away
- Turn off the gas supply at the meter from outside, if you can do so safely and quickly, by turning the valve a quarter turn
- Call your gas network’s emergency line once you are safely away from the property
- Call 000 instead if there is an immediate danger to life, an active fire, or anyone is unwell
Do not go back inside to search for the source of the leak, and do not attempt to identify or fix it yourself.
Should I Turn Off the Gas?
Yes, if it is quick and safe to reach the meter on your way out. The valve is usually a quarter-turn tap on the meter assembly, typically found on the side or front of the house. If reaching it means walking back through the smell or delaying your exit, prioritise getting everyone out first. Turning off the supply is helpful, but it is never worth the risk of staying inside longer than necessary.
Should I Leave the House?
Yes, immediately. Do not stay inside to investigate, ventilate room by room, or wait to see if the smell fades. Get everyone, including pets, out of the property and to a safe distance, then make your calls from outside.
Can I Turn Lights On?
No. Light switches, power points, and anything else that could create a spark are genuine ignition risks in a gas-affected space. This includes turning lights on or off, since the switching action itself can spark. Leave lights in whatever state they’re already in and don’t touch switches on your way out.
Who Do I Call for a Gas Leak?
This depends on where the leak is coming from, which is one of the most common points of confusion during a gas emergency:
- Leak at the meter, in the street, or you can’t identify the source: call your gas network’s emergency line. In Queensland and several other states, Australian Gas Networks operates a 24/7 line on 1800 GAS LEAK (1800 427 532). Your specific distributor’s number is usually printed on your gas bill.
- Immediate danger to life, an active fire, or anyone is unwell: call 000 first.
- Leak confirmed on your side of the meter, inside an appliance, or in your internal pipework: once the network operator has made the situation safe, you’ll need a licensed Gold Coast Gasfitter to locate and repair the fault and issue the compliance certificate confirming it’s fixed.
Network emergency crews attend to make the immediate situation safe, but they generally don’t repair internal pipework or appliances themselves, that part of the job goes to a licensed gas fitter.
Do I Call the Gas Company or a Gas Fitter?
Both, usually, just in a specific order. Call your gas network’s emergency line first, since they’re responsible for the meter and the supply up to that point, and their emergency crew can make an unsafe situation safe within a short window. From there, if the fault sits inside your home, on your appliances, or in your internal pipework, a licensed gas fitter carries out the actual repair. Your gas retailer, the company that sends your bill, is not who you call in an emergency.
What Does a Gas Leak Smell Like?
A distinct rotten-egg or sulfur-like smell, caused by the mercaptan additive rather than the gas itself. It’s a deliberately unpleasant smell so it’s impossible to miss or mistake for something else. If you notice this smell anywhere in or around your home, treat it as a leak until proven otherwise.
Can a Gas Leak Make You Sick?
Yes, particularly in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces. Symptoms of gas exposure can include headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, gas can displace oxygen in a confined space, creating a risk of asphyxiation. If anyone in the property is showing these symptoms, treat it as a medical emergency and call 000 immediately, in addition to evacuating the property.
Where Do Gas Leaks Usually Occur?
The most common locations include:
- Appliance connections, such as cooktops, ovens, and heaters
- Flexible gas hoses that have aged, cracked, or been damaged
- Fittings and joints in exposed pipework
- The gas meter and regulator
- Underground pipework, particularly where nearby excavation or ground movement has occurred
Why Can I Smell Gas Near My Cooktop?
This usually points to a worn seal, a loose connection, a burner not fully igniting, or a fault in the appliance’s internal gas line. It’s tempting to assume it’s minor since it’s isolated to one appliance, but it still needs to be checked and repaired by a licensed gas fitter rather than left or worked around.
Why Can I Smell Gas Near My Meter?
A smell near the meter or regulator can indicate a leak at the connection point between the network’s supply and your property’s internal pipework. This is worth reporting to your gas network’s emergency line straight away, since the meter and everything upstream of it is generally their responsibility, not something a homeowner or even a gas fitter can access or repair without their involvement.
Can a Gas Leak Cause an Explosion?
Yes, in the right conditions. Gas that has built up in a confined space, combined with an ignition source such as a spark from a light switch, appliance, or naked flame, can ignite. This is precisely why every safety step, avoiding switches, leaving quickly, and calling for help from outside, matters as much as it does. Explosions from gas leaks are rare in practice specifically because these precautions work when they’re followed properly.
How Quickly Should a Gas Leak Be Repaired?
Immediately. A confirmed leak is not something to schedule in for later in the week. Once the network’s emergency crew has made the immediate situation safe, the underlying repair, whether that’s a pipework fault, a damaged fitting, or an appliance issue, should be addressed by a licensed gas fitter as soon as possible, and the property shouldn’t have its gas supply restored until the fault is fixed and the fitter has confirmed it’s safe.
Need Urgent Gas Leak Repairs Gold Coast Homeowners Can Rely On?
Once your gas network has made the immediate emergency safe, Plumb Professor is available 24/7 for the follow-up repair. As a licensed Gold Coast Gasfitter, our team locates the source of the fault, repairs it correctly, and issues the compliance certificate confirming your home is safe, with a $0 call-out fee and upfront pricing on every job.
Call 07 5551 5954 or get in touch online for fast, licensed gas leak repairs on the Gold Coast.
