What Should I Do If I Smell Gas?

In a gas emergency, always call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.

Gas leaks don’t wait for a convenient moment. When you catch that smell, what you do in the next few minutes actually matters. Natural gas has no smell of its own. Suppliers add a chemical called mercaptan to it on purpose, which gives it that sulphur, rotten-egg smell. That’s not a flaw, it’s the warning system.

If you can smell gas, here’s what you should do immediately

Open your doors and windows to get air moving through the property
Put out any naked flames and don’t smoke
Turn off the gas at the mains, usually near the meter, if it’s safe to reach
Leave the property, and take everyone else with you
Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 once you’re somewhere safe

That number is free. It runs 24 hours a day. You’ll get straight through to someone who talks you through next steps and sends an engineer out. Most callouts arrive within an hour, sometimes two if you’ve already shut the gas off yourself.

What Shouldn’t I Do?

It’s important that you do not do any of the following when smelling gas:

Don’t flick any light switches or plug sockets, on or off
Don’t use your mobile phone inside the property
Don’t light a match, a lighter, or a cigarette
Don’t go looking for the source of the leak yourself

This is because a spark from a switch or a phone is genuinely enough to ignite escaping gas, so if you’re going to use your phone, make sure to leave your property.

What If the Smell Is Coming From Outside?

If you smell gas outside, on the street or near a neighbour’s house, call 0800 111 999 straight away. Stay well clear of the area and keep others away too. You don’t have to live there to report it.

What If I’ve Hit a Gas Pipe While Digging?

Building work and gardening can carry some risk. If you think you’ve damaged a gas pipe, you can call 0800 111 999, 24-hours a day.

It’s worth checking what’s buried before you start any groundworks, whether that’s an extension, a new patio, or fence posts.

When Can I Go Back Inside?

Only once the emergency engineer says it’s safe. Don’t turn the gas supply back on yourself. And don’t assume the smell fading means the problem’s fixed, it hasn’t been checked until a Gas Safe registered engineer confirms it.

Can I Smell Carbon Monoxide?

No, carbon monoxide has no smell at all. It’s produced when gas doesn’t burn properly, usually down to a faulty appliance, a blocked flue, or poor ventilation.

However, it’s always important to know the symptoms for future reference:

Headaches, dizziness or nausea, especially symptoms that ease when you leave the house and come back when you’re home again
Sooty or yellow-brown staining around a boiler or gas fire
A pilot light that keeps going out, or burns yellow instead of blue

If you suspect carbon monoxide, get outside into fresh air first, then call 0800 111 999. If anyone feels unwell, get medical help and mention the exposure. It isn’t always obvious to a GP or A&E otherwise.

A working carbon monoxide alarm catches what your nose can’t. It’s one of the cheapest bits of safety kit you can have in a home.

How Do I Stop This Happening Again?

You can stop future gas leaks by:

Getting your boiler and gas appliances serviced annually
Checking any engineer who works on your system is Gas Safe registered
Fitting and testing a carbon monoxide alarm
Not brushing off small warning signs, an odd smell from the boiler, a pilot light that won’t stay lit, a gas bill that’s crept up for no reason

Staying on top of your boiler’s condition helps catch problems early, before they turn into emergencies. Our annual boiler maintenance checklist covers what to look out for between services.

We’re Here If You Need Us

Had a gas emergency been dealt with and need a Gas Safe registered engineer to check things over afterwards? Or just want your boiler serviced by people who take gas safety seriously? Get in touch. Our engineers cover gas boiler servicing across the North West of England.

Remember: In a gas emergency, always call the National Gas Emergency Service first on 0800 111 999.