How to Recognise a Gas Leak
Natural gas is naturally odourless. Energy suppliers add a chemical compound called mercaptan to give it a smell — described as rotten eggs, sulphur, or a sharp chemical smell. If you notice any of the following, treat it as a potential gas leak:
- A rotten egg or sulphur smell inside or outside your home, particularly near gas appliances or lines
- A hissing or blowing sound from a gas line or appliance fitting
- Unusual bubbling in a puddle or wet ground near where your gas line runs
- Dead or dying vegetation in a concentrated area above a buried gas line path
- A gas appliance that keeps going out, or a pilot light that won't stay lit
Not all gas leaks have an obvious smell — if a gas leak has been ventilating for a period, the concentration may have dispersed. If your gas appliances are behaving unusually but there's no smell, it's still worth calling a licensed gas fitter to check.
What to Do — In Order
- Get everyone out of the building immediately. Don't stop to collect belongings. Get all people and pets outside and move upwind, away from the property.
- Do not operate any electrical switches. Turning a switch on or off can create a spark. Leave lights as they are — on or off — as you exit. Do not open the fridge, use the microwave, or trigger any electrical device.
- Do not use your phone inside the building. Take it with you but wait until you're outside before making any calls.
- Turn off the gas at the meter if it is safe to do so. Your gas meter is usually at the front of the property (same area as the water meter). Turn the valve lever to a 90-degree angle relative to the pipe to close it. Only do this if the meter is easily accessible and you can reach it without re-entering the building.
- Call 000 from outside if you believe there is an immediate risk of ignition or the leak is significant. Fire and Emergency Services will attend.
- Call the gas emergency line: 1800 427 532. This is the 24-hour Elgas/AGL emergency line for gas supply emergencies in SA. They can isolate the supply from the network side if needed.
- Do not re-enter the building until a gas fitter has attended, located and repaired the leak, and confirmed it is safe to return.
What NOT to Do
- Turn light switches on or off
- Use a phone, torch, or any electrical device inside the building
- Use a doorbell or intercom
- Operate garage door openers or remote controls
- Smoke or use any open flame near the property
- Start a car parked near the building
- Attempt to find or repair the leak yourself
Emergency Numbers — Save These
All gas repair work in South Australia — including leak repair, pipe work, and reconnection — must be carried out by a licensed gas fitter. After the immediate emergency is managed, call us on 08 8123 4567 for prompt repair and reinstatement of your gas service. We can work alongside Emergency Services and the network provider to get your home safe and reconnected as quickly as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Natural gas has a distinctive rotten egg or sulphur smell, added by the gas supplier so leaks can be detected. If you smell anything like this inside or near your home — trust it and act. Don't assume it's something else without investigating.
Not inside the building. Leave first, then call. Phone calls — and especially the act of answering a call — can produce a small electrical spark. In a gas-filled room, that's sufficient for ignition. Leave the building before making or receiving any calls.
In South Australia, all gas work requires a licensed gas fitter — a separate licence from a plumbing licence, though many plumbing companies (including us) hold both. Check that whoever does your gas repair holds a current SA gas fitting licence before they start work.
Most residential gas leak repairs are completed in a single visit, typically 1–3 hours depending on the location and extent of the leak. After repair, the system is pressure-tested before reinstatement and the gas is reconnected. You'll receive a Certificate of Compliance for the work.
Gas Leak Repairs in Adelaide — Licensed & 24/7
After the immediate emergency is managed, call our licensed gas fitters for prompt repair and gas reinstatement. We work across all Adelaide suburbs, any time of day or night.
Call 08 8123 4567 Get a Quote