What to Do If You Smell Gas
A gas smell at home means stop and work through a set sequence. Queensland's official advice goes: nothing electrical gets touched, the appliance goes off, air in, supply off if needed, then 000. This page walks through what to do if you smell gas, one step at a time, and marks where it turns into a triple-zero call.
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One local note first. Most homes here sit inside converted woolstore apartments, and a gas smell in a shared building is never a wait-and-see job. Work the steps below, then ring (07) 3524 0766.
The Queensland Government Steps in Order
- 1
Leave Fires and Switches Alone
Light nothing, and leave every electrical device exactly as it sits. That covers light switches, power points and appliances. A spark from a thrown switch near gas is the hazard this step is built to stop.
- 2
Switch the Gas Appliance Off
Turn the appliance you suspect off at its control. Do not relight a pilot, and do not go looking for the leak. The steps stop well short of any of that.
- 3
Let Air Through
Open the doors and the windows. Moving air gives the gas somewhere to go while you watch whether the smell clears.
- 4
Shut the Supply if the Smell Hangs On
Still smelling gas? Bring the supply off: the meter for piped gas, the bottle valve for LPG. Then ring the gas supplier or a licensed gasfitter for guidance.
- 5
Ring 000 if It Will Not Clear
Gas still noticeable once the supply is off means 000. The steps end there, and so does the DIY part of the response.
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Shutting Off at the Meter or the Cylinder
Natural gas is methane, which rises; a leak can drift upward and thin out in open air. LPG sinks, collecting in low spots and drains. Whichever gas you have decides where the shut-off sits: the meter for piped gas, the cylinder for a bottle.
Two rules cover cylinders. The LPG distributor services and tests a connected bottle, so a cylinder that smells or has damage means phoning the distributor. And never repair or remove a cylinder valve yourself; sniff for the rotten-egg odour and leave the valve to the licensed people.
Gas work in Queensland is licensed work. Every gas task, from installing and altering through to servicing, testing and certifying a system with its pipework and connections, belongs to licensed gasfitters. Sight the gas work licence before anyone picks up a tool.
Fire, Explosion or a Leak You Cannot Control
Two cases put 000 first: a smell that survives the shut-off, and a fire, explosion or uncontrolled gas leak. For the second, ring 000 immediately, then follow the order below.
- Keep calm, light nothing and operate no electrical device.
- Get everyone out of the area.
- Bring the appliance and the supply at the cylinder or meter off, but only where that is safe.
- Fight a fire with a fire blanket or an extinguisher, and air the place out once it is out.
The supplier's emergency number sits on your gas bill, printed top right, under the headings "emergencies" or "leaking gas". After a storm or flood, ring 000 over any gas smell, and contact the gas supplier where meters, regulators or cylinders have taken damage.
Should you leave the house? The steps for a smell say nothing about going anywhere; the fire, explosion or uncontrolled-leak steps say to evacuate. Follow the list that matches your case.
What Makes a Gas Leak Dangerous
The smell is a warning you are given on purpose. Natural gas and LPG are colourless and odourless in their natural state, so suppliers dose them with a chemical called mercaptan, which carries that distinctive rotten-egg odour and makes leaks easy to notice.
The hazard is fire, not poison. Both gases burn readily; neither is a poison. The sickness risk comes from a room full of gas, where oxygen gets pushed out, bringing nausea, then dizziness, and asphyxiation at the worst end.
When to Call a Plumber
Once the steps are done and the smell is under control, the repair is licensed gasfitter work, full stop. Tightening a fitting, swapping a hose or touching a regulator is DIY gas work, and DIY gas work is off the table in Queensland.
The price of a gas leak repair depends on where the leak sits and how reachable the pipework is, and on whether one joint, a short stretch or a whole run needs replacing. A fixed quote confirms it once the gasfitter has seen the job. For the repair side of things, read our gas leak repairs page.
Gas Smell Questions From Teneriffe
Call (07) 3524 0766What should I do first if I smell gas in my Teneriffe home?
Keep calm and leave every switch alone. Light switches and power points stay as they are, the gas appliance gets switched off, and doors and windows go open to let air through. A smell that hangs around after that means the supply comes off next.
Where do I find the gas emergency number for my Teneriffe home?
Look at a recent gas bill. The supplier prints its emergency contact top right, under the headings "emergencies" or "leaking gas". Keep one bill somewhere handy so the number is there before you need it.
Why does gas smell like rotten eggs?
Natural gas and LPG are both colourless and odourless as they come out of the ground or the refinery. Suppliers dose them with a chemical called mercaptan, which carries that rotten-egg odour. The smell is deliberate, so a leak gives itself away early.
Can a small gas leak make you sick?
No, the gas itself is neither poisonous nor toxic. The risk in a room full of gas is oxygen getting pushed out, which brings nausea, then dizziness, and asphyxiation at the worst end. No source sets a threshold for a small leak, so treat any smell as serious.
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Ring (07) 3524 0766 and tell us what's wrong. You get $0 call-out fees, a fixed quote before any work starts and same-day where we can, 7 days a week.
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