Gas leaks are uncommon, but when they do occur they need to be taken seriously and acted on immediately. The most important thing is knowing the signs and understanding exactly what to do.
How to recognise a gas leak
Natural gas is odourless in its natural state, but gas suppliers add a distinctive sulphur smell (often described as rotten eggs) to make leaks detectable. Other signs include:
- A hissing or whistling sound near a gas appliance or pipework
- Dead or dying plants in an area where there are no obvious reasons for it
- Bubbling in puddles or waterlogged ground outside (indicating an underground leak)
- Feeling dizzy, nauseous or having unexplained headaches at home
- A visible flame burning where it shouldn’t be, or a pilot light that keeps going out
What to do immediately
If you suspect a gas leak, do the following without delay:
- Do not turn any lights or electrical switches on or off. A spark could ignite the gas.
- Do not use your phone inside the property.
- Open windows and doors to ventilate the space.
- Turn off the gas at the meter, using the handle next to the meter. Turn it 90 degrees so it is perpendicular to the pipe.
- Leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 from outside. This line is free and available 24 hours a day.
After the emergency service has attended
The gas emergency service will make the property safe, but they don’t carry out repairs. Once they’ve given the all-clear, you’ll need a Gas Safe registered engineer to locate the fault, carry out any repairs and check all appliances before the gas is turned back on.
Our team is Gas Safe registered and carries out gas leak detection and repair across Birmingham and Solihull. Once the emergency is resolved, call us and we’ll get an engineer to you as quickly as possible.
