Gas Leak Facts – What to do in a Gas Leak Emergency

Natural gas is a relatively clean and efficient way to power and fuel heating and cooking appliances in a property. Typically a gas leak can occur due to poor usage or installation of these appliances, but it can also be caused by inadequate maintenance or servicing.

Most of the time, a gas leak in the home is caused by a broken or badly installed appliance. The pipe that goes into your appliance is usually the source of the leak. If you’ve checked that the appliance is off, e.g. making sure all the knobs on your cooker are in the “off” position, then the gas leak is probably caused by a problem with the connection or the appliance itself. 

To reduce the chance of a gas leak caused by a damaged appliance, it’s very important to have any new appliances installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and have them serviced or checked for gas safety regularly. Make sure to check the Gas Safe Register website before starting work to see if the engineer is qualified to work on that particular type of appliance. 

A Landlord’s Gas Safety Check is a legal requirement and an important piece of paperwork that shows the appliances in a rental property have been checked by a qualified Gas Safe engineer within the last 12 months. As a landlord, one of the most important legal responsibilities is to make sure that the people who live in these properties are safe and free of dangers.

Ways to detect if you have a gas leak in your property

• You can smell gas. A strong smell like rotten eggs is the most obvious sign of a gas leak. This smell is added to natural gas to help detect leaks. 

• You can hear something hissing or whistling. When gas leaks the area around the leak can sometimes make a hissing or whistling sound. 

• You can see damage. If you see damage on gas pipes, like dents or rust, it could mean that there is a gas leak. 

• Your appliances don’t work right. If your gas appliances don’t work correctly or as they once did, it could be a sign of a gas leak. 

• You feel sick or dizzy. If you or someone else in your home starts to feel sick, dizzy, or gets headaches after using gas appliances it could be a sign of a gas leak. 

• You paid more than usual for gas. If your gas bill goes up for no reason, it could be because gas is leaking from your pipes or appliances. 

• You see bubbles in standing water. If you see bubbles in water near a gas pipe, it could mean that the pipe is leaking gas. 

• You see plants that are dead or dying. Plants’ growth and health can sometimes be affected by gas leaks. If you notice that plants in your home are dying or not growing as they should this could be a sign of a gas leak. 

• The light on your pilot is yellow or flickers. Your gas appliance should have a blue pilot light. If the light is yellow or flickers, it could mean that there is a gas leak. 

• Near gas pipes or appliances, you can feel warmth. If you feel heat near gas pipes or appliances, it could be a sign of a gas leak, this could be due to the gas escaping and warming the area.

If you think your home has a gas leak, you should act quickly and safely. Open all the windows to let air in, and don’t touch any electrical switches, appliances, or light switches because they could start a fire. Get out of the house right away and call 0800 111 999 to reach the National Gas Emergency Service. Do not go back to the house until a gas engineer has checked the area and said it is safe.

What to do if you suspect a gas leak in your property

• Don’t use any electrical devices or lights that might create a spark 

• Put out all open flames where possible before leaving the property

• Don’t smoke or light  any matches in or near the property

• Don’t light any candles or torches

• Keep everyone away from the suspected area.

• Don’t use or allow others to use the doorbell.

• Don’t adjust thermostats or appliance controls before leaving

• Don’t use lifts to leave the building and use stairs where possible
• .
• Don’t use a telephone or a mobile phone within the property

• Don’t turn light switches on or off before exiting the property

Who pays for a gas leak?

Gas companies will sometimes claim responsibility for leaks on their side of the metre (the pipes running from your house underground to the main). Leaks from the metre to the house’s systems and appliances are typically the responsibility of the homeowner.

However, this isn’t always the case. Depending on a number of factors, homeowners may be held liable for any costs associated with gas leak repairs or damages. Understanding the potential costs and detecting leaks quickly by paying attention to these signs can help you prepare for a gas leak.

What steps to take in order to  prevent a gas leak in your property?

Some simple precautions could save you from the high financial and human costs of a gas leak. 

Things to keep in mind when working to prevent gas leaks in your property include: 

• Have your  gas heating and cooking appliances checked and serviced on a regular basis, this includes your gas boilers, cooker, hobs, ovens and fires. 

• Check that any pilot lights are turned on. Flames should be small, blue, and have a yellow tip. Flickering, lifting or yellow flames should be checked 

• Only use gas safe registered engineers to install and work on your gas appliances. 

• Install  smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your property. While carbon monoxide detectors do not directly detect gas leaks, they can detect when appliances improperly burn gas. Smoke alarms can warn you of any fires and dangers before it is too late.

• Don’t ignore warning signs. If you smell, see or hear something unusual then get it checked out 

• Know the location and the functionality of your gas isolation valves. This could be the main isolation valve or individual valves on your appliances. 

• Have your emergency services contact numbers to hand. 

Who to call in a Gas Leak Emergency?

If you smell gas, want to report a gas leak, or need gas emergency services, you can call the free, 24-hour National Gas Emergency Helpline. 

The gas emergency number you require is determined by where you live in the UK and the type of gas involved: