What should you do if you suspect a gas leak?

That relatively minor lingering gas odour to wafting smells throughout the living room or under the floor, to that ‘get me out of here, we have a bloody gas leak!’ knee-jerk reaction after arriving back home from work. Gas leaks can range from an occasional odour to significant emergency events.

If you’re smelling a strong gas odour or suspect a leak – you’ll require the services of a licensed and insured Gas fitter!

We’ll answer all your questions:

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Safety check-list before your Gasfitter arrives

Step One:

Identify whether the odour is originating internally or externally within your property to enable alerting house members or neighbouring occupants of the problem.

It’s crucial to limit the risks if multiple residents are involved.

Step Two:

Turn off any electrical devices and appliances around the affected area, and if nearby a kitchen or BBQ – ensure no flames are used until adequately inspected.

Meanwhile, ensure your property is well ventilated. Finally, open all doors and windows to dissipate any lingering gases safely elsewhere.

Step Three:

Turn off your natural gas meter: This task can be performed by turning the meter ball-valve off. Before the meter housing, there will be a valve handle attached to your mains supply line.

Pull this up to a horizontal position which will isolate the supply of gas operating through your meter.

OR

Turn off your LPG service: The Objective is precisely the same principle as Natural Gas. First, you’ll need to isolate your bottles.

This task can easily be performed by simply turning the gate-valve knobs off in a clockwise turning sequence for both active and backup LPG bottle supplies.

Unable to find your gas meter?

It’ll almost certainly be located at the front of your property, usually mounted against the side corner of your front house wall or side passage.

Otherwise, you may find these to be situated adjacent to driveways or along the front boundary fence lines.

Usually, gas meters are located in accessible positions as, inevitably, your gas utility requires quarterly meter reads for gas billing.

Step Four:

Ultimately, electrical hazards and ignition sources are the most dangerous scenario around gas leaks. The Pied Plumber Sydney always suggests locating your electrical meter board to isolate all power ignition sources around the affected areas. If in doubt, turning off the power to the entire property is a safe choice.

How do you locate gas leaks?

At the Pied Plumber, we understand that having the right equipment together with knowledge and experience can go a long way to locating and promptly repairing gas leaks.

Our first approach is to narrow down the scope of works to establish whether the gas leak is appliance or supply-related.

A thorough inspection of the affected area is necessary to safely perform this measure before testing the service and replicating the problem for assessment.

We carry combustible gas testing equipment, bubble leak detection, and manometer pressure testing gear to measure leaks, which frequently points the way to their exact location.

We can even organise high-end pipe tracing and nitrogen testing to pinpoint concealed below ground leaks.

The bottom line to consider here – Endeavouring sourcing gas leaks without appropriate tools, experience and accreditation place your family and property in jeopardy. All forms of house gas must be treated with respect and diligence.

If you have a suspiciously evident gas leak -  We’re licensed and insured Plumbers, Gasfitters, Drainers and a trusted family name in Sydney since 1995.