Gas Leaks: What to Do Right Now

A gas leak is a genuine emergency. Natural gas is odorised so you can smell it, and if you do, the priority is to get everyone out safely and stop the gas flow, not to find the leak yourself.

Recognise the signs

• A rotten egg or sulfur smell, which is added to natural gas to make it detectable
• A hissing or whistling sound near a gas appliance or pipe
• Dead or discoloured vegetation near an outdoor gas line
• Symptoms like dizziness, headache or nausea with no other explanation

What to do if you smell gas

• Do not turn any electrical switches on or off, and don't use matches, lighters or anything that could spark
• Do not use your phone or any electrical device inside the property
• Open doors and windows to ventilate the area if it's safe to do so
• If you can safely reach the gas meter, turn off the gas supply at the isolation valve
• Leave the building, then call your gas distributor's 24-hour emergency line (Jemena is Sydney's gas network, emergency number 131 909) or 000

Do not try to repair it yourself

Gas fitting work in Australia must be carried out by a licensed gas fitter, and attempting a DIY repair is both dangerous and illegal. Once the gas is off and everyone is safe, call a licensed gas fitter or emergency plumber to locate and repair the leak.

After the emergency

Don't turn the gas back on yourself. A licensed gas fitter will repair the leak, test the system and confirm it's safe before the supply is restored. If the leak was on your side of the meter, it's your responsibility to arrange the repair; if it's on the street side, the gas network will handle it.