Gas Leaks at Home: Signs, Safety Steps and Why You Should Never DIY the Fix

A gas leak is one of the most dangerous plumbing emergencies you’ll ever face. Natural gas and LPG are both highly flammable, and a small spark from a light switch, a phone or a fridge compressor is enough to ignite a gas-air mixture.

Knowing the signs, and knowing exactly what to do in the first 60 seconds, saves lives.

Signs of a gas leak at home

• The smell of mercaptan — natural gas is odourless, so distributors add mercaptan, which smells like sulphur or rotten eggs, specifically so leaks can be detected.
• A hissing sound near a gas appliance or gas line.
• Dead or discoloured plants in one patch of the garden — gas escaping from an underground supply line kills the vegetation above it.
• Bubbles in wet ground near gas lines, where gas is pushing up through saturated soil.
• Physical symptoms — headaches, dizziness, nausea or trouble breathing at home that ease once you leave the house.
• Higher gas bills with no change in how much you’re using.

What to do immediately

1. Don’t touch any electrical switches, including lights. Sparks from switches can ignite gas.
2. Don’t use your phone while you’re still inside. Even waking the screen can create a small spark.
3. Leave the property immediately. Don’t stop for belongings.
4. Open doors and windows on your way out, if you can do it without touching a switch.
5. From outside, or from a neighbour’s place, call 000 if there’s any risk of ignition or immediate danger.
6. Call your gas distributor’s emergency line so they can isolate the supply.
7. Call Plumbing Bros — our licensed gas fitters will attend and make the site safe.

Why you cannot DIY a gas leak repair

There is no legal pathway to DIY gas leak repair in any Australian state or territory. All gas work, including repairing a leaking fitting or joint, requires a licensed gas fitter.

That isn’t a bureaucratic technicality — the consequences of getting gas work wrong are catastrophic. Even after your distributor has made the site safe, the source has to be found and repaired by a licensed gas fitter before supply can be restored.

FAQs about gas leaks

How long does it take for gas to dissipate?

Natural gas is lighter than air and disperses upward fairly quickly in open spaces. In an enclosed room it can reach dangerous concentrations within minutes. Always evacuate and ventilate before going back into a property where there’s been a leak.

Can I turn the gas back on myself after the distributor isolates it?

No. Once a distributor has isolated your supply because of a leak, a licensed gas fitter has to inspect and repair it, certify the work, and notify the distributor before supply is restored. Only the distributor can reconnect you.

How much does gas leak repair cost?

It depends on the source and scope. A leaking appliance fitting might be $150–$300 to repair; a leaking underground supply line is a bigger job. Either way, we quote before any work starts.