Suspect a Gas Leak? Exactly What to Do in the First 5 Minutes
If you smell gas (rotten egg, sulphur), hear hissing near a gas appliance, or feel nauseous and dizzy with no other cause — treat it as a leak. The next five minutes matter more than anything else.
Minute 0–1: get everyone out
- Open every external door and window on the way out
- Do NOT switch any electrical switches on or off — a spark in gas-saturated air ignites
- Do NOT use the phone inside the building
- Do NOT light a flame, smoke, or use a candle
- Get all people and pets clear, upwind from the property
Minute 1–2: isolate the gas
If safe to do so on the way out, turn off the gas at the meter (mains) or at the bottle valve (LPG). The meter isolation valve is the lever that sits at 90° to the pipe when off. Most Adelaide Hills properties off mains are on twin-bottle LPG — turn both bottles off at the valve on top of each cylinder.
Minute 2–5: call from outside
From a safe distance — outside the property — call Australian Gas Networks on 1800 GAS LEAK (1800 427 532) for mains gas, then call a licensed gas fitter for repair.
What NOT to do
- Get out and stay out
- Open doors and windows on the way
- Isolate gas at the meter or bottles if safe
- Call Australian Gas Networks from outside on 1800 427 532
- Don't switch lights, fans or appliances on or off
- Don't use a phone inside the building
- Don't try to find the leak with a flame
- Don't go back in until a gas fitter says it's safe
"Every gas-leak job we do, the homeowner tells us they 'weren't sure if it was bad enough'. If you can smell it, it's bad enough. Get out."
— Sam, Topline Plumbing & Gas
FAQ
Who pays for the gas leak callout?+
Australian Gas Networks will attend free to make-safe the mains side. The licensed gas fitter repair on the homeowner's side of the meter is paid by the homeowner.
Do you do 24/7 gas leak callouts?+
Yes — call Sam direct on 0408 081 147 any time. We prioritise gas leaks above all other jobs.
Need a real Adelaide Hills plumber on the job?
Licensed plumbers & gas fitters. Call Sam direct or request a written quote.
