What to do if you smell gas at home

If you can smell gas, act now. Read the rest of this page later.

Do this straight away

1. Do not use electrical switches. Leave lights on or off as they are. Do not use doorbells or plug anything in or out.
2. No flames. Do not smoke, light matches or use a lighter.
3. Open doors and windows to let fresh air in.
4. Turn off the gas at the emergency control valve next to the meter, if you can do so safely. Move the lever so it is at a right angle to the pipe.
5. Get everyone out of the property.
6. Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 from outside, using a mobile phone. The line is free and open 24 hours a day.

The emergency service will make the supply safe. Their engineer does not normally repair the fault. Once it is safe, a Gas Safe registered engineer needs to find and fix the leak before the gas goes back on.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide has no smell. Warning signs include headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness and tiredness that ease when you leave the house, a yellow or orange flame on a gas hob or fire, or soot marks around an appliance. If you suspect it, get outside into fresh air, call 0800 111 999, and seek medical advice.

Fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm in every room with a gas appliance. In rented homes, landlords must fit one in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, such as a boiler or gas fire.

After the emergency

Call us on 020 8050 5913. We will test the whole installation for leaks, repair the faulty pipework or appliance, and reconnect everything safely. See our gas leak repair service for what is involved.

Prevention

An annual boiler service and a regular check of gas appliances are the best protection. If you let a property, the landlord gas safety check is a legal requirement every 12 months.