A gas leak needs to be taken seriously every time. Most homes in Mandurah, Halls Head, Meadow Springs and the newer estates are on mains natural gas, while some outer and semi-rural properties run on LPG bottles. Both can be dangerous if they leak. Here's how to recognise one and what to do.
Warning signs of a gas leak
The smell
Natural gas and LPG have no smell of their own. A strong odorant is added so you can detect a leak. If you notice a rotten egg or sulphur smell inside, near an appliance or around the meter or bottles, treat it as a leak.
Hissing or whistling
A hiss near a gas pipe, appliance connection, meter or LPG regulator can mean gas is escaping.
Signs outside
A patch of dead or dying grass or plants along the line of an underground gas pipe, or bubbles in a puddle where there's no other explanation, can point to a leak underground.
Feeling unwell
Headaches, dizziness or nausea that ease when you go outside should be taken seriously. This can also be a sign of carbon monoxide from a faulty gas heater or appliance, which has no smell at all. If more than one person in the house feels it, get everyone outside.
What to do straight away
- Don't create a spark. Don't turn lights or appliances on or off, don't use a phone near the smell, and don't light matches, lighters or cigarettes.
- Turn off the gas if it's safe to. For mains gas, turn the valve at the meter so the handle sits across the pipe. For LPG, turn the cylinder valves clockwise to close them.
- Ventilate. Open doors and windows on your way out. LPG is heavier than air and settles in low spots, so don't go into pits or below-ground areas looking for it.
- Get everyone out, including pets, and move well away from the smell.
- Make the call from outside.
Who to call
- Fire, or anyone in danger: call 000 first.
- Gas leak in the street, a footpath or a nature strip, or at the mains gas meter: call ATCO Gas on 13 13 52, 24 hours.
- LPG bottle problems: contact your LPG supplier as well.
- A leak in your home's pipework or an appliance: once the gas is off and everyone is safe, call a licensed gas fitter to find and repair it. Don't turn the gas back on until it's been checked.
Why you shouldn't fix it yourself
Gas fitting is licensed work in WA. Tightening a fitting or wrapping tape around a joint might seem to stop the smell, but it doesn't confirm the system is safe. A licensed gas fitter will find the leak, repair it and test the whole installation before turning the gas back on.
Preventing leaks
- Have gas heaters and appliances serviced as the manufacturer recommends
- Keep LPG bottles upright, outdoors and clear of drains and openings
- Know where your meter or cylinder valves are before you ever need them
- Use a licensed gas fitter for any new appliance or alteration
See our gas services page for installations, repairs and compliance work across the Peel region.
If your gas is off and you need a licensed gas fitter, call Drainpro Plumbers on 0413 904 259. We're available 24/7 for emergency plumbing and gas across Mandurah.