Worried about a gas leak in your Canberra home? We will be there fast.

Four things usually give a gas leak away: the smell of rotten eggs or sulphur, a hissing or whistling sound near a gas line or an appliance, dead or discoloured plants over an outdoor gas pipe, and people getting dizzy, nauseous or headachy inside the house. If you notice any of them, open doors and windows, leave the property immediately, and call the gas emergency line on 13 19 09 (Evoenergy in the ACT). Gas safety in the ACT is regulated by Access Canberra under the Gas Safety Act 2000, and the order is what matters: get everyone out of the building first, then report it.

1. The Smell of Rotten Eggs or Sulphur

Natural gas has no smell of its own. Suppliers add a chemical called mercaptan to it so that a leak announces itself, and what you end up smelling is rotten eggs or sulphur. If you pick that up anywhere in the house, near the stove, the gas heater, the hot water system or the meter, treat it as real. A faint whiff still counts.

The smell is usually strongest closest to the source of the leak. Follow your nose, but do not go looking for the leak with a lighter or match. That should go without saying, but you would be surprised.

2. A Hissing or Whistling Sound

A leak in a pipe or a connection often makes a hissing or whistling noise. You might hear it near an appliance, along the gas line, or at the meter box outside. That is gas forcing its way out through a small opening under pressure. If a leak is big enough to hear, it is big enough to act on straight away.

Check the cooktop connections, the flexible hose behind the stove, and any exposed gas pipe in the house. Those are the spots where fittings work loose over the years.

3. Visual Signs

Some leaks show themselves, particularly outdoors. Look for:

• Plants or grass dying off near a gas line for no obvious reason, which can happen when gas escaping underground poisons the soil
• Bubbling in a puddle or in wet soil near a gas line, which usually means gas is coming up from the pipe below
• Dirt or dust being disturbed above the ground, which a small jet of gas from a buried pipe will do
• A white mist or fog hanging near the leak point, which escaping gas can create in the right conditions

4. Physical Symptoms

Breathing gas in a closed-up or poorly ventilated room will make people feel unwell. Watch for:

• Headaches or dizziness
• Nausea or feeling unwell
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Difficulty breathing
• Irritation to the eyes, nose, or throat

If more than one person in the house feels it at the same time, especially while gas appliances are running, take a gas leak seriously. The clearest pattern is symptoms that ease off when you go out and come back when you walk in the door.

What to Do If You Suspect a Gas Leak

If you notice any of the signs above, take these steps immediately:

1. Do not use electrical switches. Turning lights on or off, or using any electrical appliance, can create a spark that ignites the gas. This includes light switches, power points, and even your phone if you are in the affected area.
2. Open doors and windows. Ventilate the area as much as possible to let the gas disperse.
3. Turn off the gas at the meter. If you can do this safely, turn off the gas supply at the meter outside your property. The valve is usually a quarter-turn handle.
4. Leave the property. Get everyone out of the house, including pets. Move well away from the building.
5. Call the gas emergency line. In the ACT, call Evoenergy on 13 19 09. They will assess the immediate danger and make the area safe.
6. Call a licensed gas fitter. Once the immediate danger is managed, you will need a licensed gas fitter to find and repair the leak, test the system, and issue a compliance certificate before the gas can be turned back on.

When to Call a Plumber vs Gas Emergency Services

If you can smell gas strongly, hear hissing, or anyone is feeling unwell, call the gas emergency line (13 19 09) first. They handle the immediate safety response. After the area is made safe, call a licensed gas fitter to do the actual repair.

If it is not urgent, say you want the appliances checked as a precaution or you need a gas compliance certificate for a property sale, call a licensed plumber and gas fitter directly. We carry gas detection equipment and can test the whole system for leaks.

Preventing Gas Leaks

Most leaks are preventable with basic maintenance. Get your gas appliances serviced every two years by a licensed gas fitter. Check the flexible hoses, the ones behind the stove especially, for cracks or perishing. A yellow or orange flame where you should have a clean blue one means the appliance needs looking at. And once appliances are past ten years old, it is worth having them tested properly.