Gas leaks and safety
Manage gas leaks, service interruptions and new connections in your home.
Suspect a gas leak?
A gas leak can pose a potential danger to those in your household. If you can smell gas:
- Try to find the source of the smell. Look at your stove gas burner, other gas appliances or the piping near your gas meter.
- If you cannot identify the source or it is coming from an appliance that is turned off, switch the natural gas handle on your meter to the off position.
- Open your windows for better ventilation. Check that stove burners, naked flames, and pilot lights are off. Finally, turn off your electricity at the fuse box.
- From outside the house, call your local licensed plumber or gas fitter. If you are renting, call your real estate agent.
Notify your gas distributor
As well as a licensed plumber or gas fitter, call your local gas distributor. You can find their number on your AGL bill. If you know the name of your distributor, you can find their number below. Otherwise, find out who distributes gas to your area at Australian Energy Regulator.
| Distributor | Contact details |
|---|---|
| Jemena Gas Networks | |
Australian Gas Networks |
When to contact us
If any of the following applies to you, get in touch with us:
- You have no gas at all
- Your gas has been disconnected in error
- Your meter has been stolen
- You require a meter re-light (for example, if construction work has occurred on your street)
- You can smell gas coming directly from the meter
Gas systems safety
There are some things you can do to stay safe when choosing and using gas systems in your home.
When buying a gas appliance, it must be certified by an industry body prior to sale. There are five national gas certification bodies:
- Australian Gas Association (AGA)
- SAI Global
- International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO)
- Global-Mark
- BSI
Your gas appliance must carry a certification label and compliance plate from one of the certification bodies listed above.
You can check what certification labels to look out for on the Gas Technical Regulators Committee website.
Appliances have an indentification plate that should specify whether they are suitable for natural gas - if you're unsure, ask the appliance retailer, your gas supplier or a licensed gasfitter.
In addition, appliances must carry a compliance plate from an approved certification body. If you buy a second-hand gas appliance, always check the compliance plate and have it serviced and installed by a licensed gasfitter.
Never connect liquid petroleum or LP gas to a natural gas appliance, unless it’s been converted by a licensed gasfitter or the appliance manufacturer. Likewise, only use your gas appliances for the jobs they're designed to do. It's dangerous to use a gas stove to heat a room, or to try to cook on a heater.
Always use a licenced gas professional fitter and make sure you receive a compliance certificate once the job is done. Licenced gas professionals can only install or repair certified products. These licenced professionals carry an identity card with a photograph, stating what work they are qualified to perform.
Your state’s regulator can help you find a licenced gas professional.
| State regulator | Phone number |
|---|---|
ACT |
|
NSW |
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QLD |
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SA |
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VIC |
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WA |
Regularly clean your gas appliances and pay attention to service records, making sure you only have work done by a licensed professional.
How do you know if your gas appliance is working properly? Check if the flame burns blue. If the flame continuously burns yellow, it's time to get it serviced by a licensed gasfitter. If you experience headaches, drowsiness, sore eyes or throat when using a gas appliance, turn it off immediately and ventilate the area. Do not use the appliance again until it has been checked by a licensed gasfitter.
Regularly servicing your gas heater reduces the risk of it releasing carbon monoxide, an odourless gas that can cause chronic illness or even death.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can include:
- tiredness
- shortness of breath
- headaches
- nausea and vomiting
- weakness and sleepiness.
Extreme cases can cause confusion, loss of consciousness or death.
To help with a diagnosis, let your medical professional know if you feel better when in the fresh air or if other members of the house - including pets - have similar symptoms. The elderly, children, unborn babies and people with heart disease and anaemia can be particularly susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Unflued gas heaters (those without a chimney) need proper permanent ventilation and can only be used in rooms that are a certain size. Before you buy, check with the appliance retailer or a licensed gasfitter to make sure they’re suitable for your home.
