At a glance
If you can smell gas inside your home, open all doors and windows immediately.
Don’t use any electrical switches or naked flames.
Go outside and call the National Gas Emergency number (0800 111 999 in England, Wales and Scotland) from a safe distance.
Don’t go back indoors until you’ve been given the all-clear by a qualified engineer.
What should I do if I smell gas in my home?
Do
Open doors and windows to let in fresh air.
Turn off your mains gas supply. The mains tap is usually located near the meter – turn the emergency control valve a full 90 degrees to shut off the gas supply. If your gas meter is in the cellar or basement, don’t enter.
Get everyone out of the house.
Call the National Gas Emergency number for your region**.
Follow the advice from the operator and wait outside for an emergency gas engineer to arrive.
If you feel unwell, seek medical advice as soon as possible and explain you’ve been exposed to a gas leak.
Do NOT
Smoke, light a match or use any naked flames.
Turn any electrical switches or electrical appliances on or off.
Use mobile phones, doorbells or any other devices inside your home that could cause a spark.
Enter the property until you’ve been given the all-clear from a certified gas professional.
Gas leak numbers:
The gas emergency numbers are free of charge and available 24/7:
Countries and territories | **Gas leak numbers to call |
|---|---|
England, Wales and Scotland | 0800 111 999 |
Northern Ireland | 0800 002 001 |
Isle of Man | 0808 1624 444 |
Guernsey | 01481 749000 |
Jersey | 01534 755555 |
What does gas smell like?
Gas is actually completely odourless. But, in order to make a leak detectable, mercaptan (a pungent, yet harmless, gas) is added to it.
This makes a gas leak smell like rotten eggs, rotten cabbage or, as some people say, even old socks.
Gas appliances can also cause carbon monoxide (CO) leaks. These are much harder to detect because CO doesn’t have a smell.
The most reliable way to identify CO is with a carbon monoxide detector, which will sound an alarm if CO is present.
Why are gas leaks so dangerous?
Gas leaks are dangerous because they can cause fires and explosions if left unchecked, as well as carbon monoxide poisoning.
In England and Wales, around 20 people die each year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, with many more hospitalised, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
Most deaths occur in the colder months when people use heating appliances more and keep windows closed to stay warm.
If you can smell gas in your house, or your carbon monoxide alarm goes off, take immediate action.
What causes gas leaks?
Poorly installed, faulty, or old gas appliances are the main cause of gas leaks in the home. They can also develop issues if they aren’t regularly maintained.
Most leaks tend to come from the hose that carries the gas to your appliance or from around the seal.
What are the signs of a gas leak?
Other than a bad smell, signs of a gas leak include:
A hissing sound from pipes or appliances
Unusually high gas usage detected by a smart meter
Air bubbles in still water
Dying house plants.
If you have an older boiler with a sooty coating on the casing and a yellow/orange pilot flame, this could be a sign of carbon monoxide.
What are the symptoms of a gas leak or carbon monoxide poisoning?
Physical symptoms of a gas leak or carbon monoxide poisoning include:
A dull headache
Feeling weak
Dizziness, nausea and vomiting
Chest and muscle pain
Confusion
Shortness of breath and loss of consciousness.
If you have any of these symptoms and suspect a gas leak is the cause, go outside into the fresh air straight away and call the gas emergency helpline.
What should I do if I smell gas outside my house?
If you can smell gas outside your home, take the same action as inside the home by calling the gas emergency number in your region and following the steps at the top of this page.
You should also alert your neighbours to the problem and advise them to follow the same steps.
Who pays for gas leak repairs?
If you call the National Gas Emergency Service to report a gas leak, they will send an engineer out to your property for free.
But they will only do what’s necessary to make the property safe. If further repairs to appliances or pipework are needed, you’ll have to pay for those yourself.
A home insurance policy might cover you if a gas explosion has damaged the structure of your home, along with any contents inside. But there will likely be exclusions, such as no payout if you neglected to maintain your appliances.
How can I prevent a gas-related incident in my home?
Make sure your gas appliances are fitted by a Gas Safe engineer, who you can find on the Gas Safe Register
Get an annual boiler service – this should only be carried out by a Gas Safe-registered engineer
Regular maintenance should also be carried out by a certified gas professional, to keep your appliances safe
Buy a gas detector alarm that’s designed to alert you to a gas leak. This is different to a carbon monoxide detector
If you’re living in a rented property, make sure your landlord provides you with a gas safety certificate.
FAQs
What can cause carbon monoxide to leak?
Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels don’t burn properly. Common household fuels like gas, oil, coal and wood could all potentially cause a carbon monoxide leak if appliances are incorrectly installed or poorly maintained.
Causes of carbon monoxide leaks include:
Boilers
Open fires
Wood-burning stoves
Water heaters
Cookers.
Using barbecues or camping stoves indoors can also cause a build-up of carbon monoxide. So too can turning on vehicle or lawnmower engines in your garage.
Who should check my gas appliances if I’m renting?
Your landlord is legally responsible for arranging annual safety checks of all gas appliances installed in your home. These should be carried out by a Gas Safe-registered engineer.
Your landlord must keep a record of safety checks and provide you with a copy. They must also install a carbon monoxide detector in any room with a solid fuel appliance – for example, a wood-burning stove or open fire.
How do I find a Gas Safe-registered engineer?
You can find a local Gas Safe-registered engineer by typing your postcode into the ‘Find an Engineer’ search tool on the Gas Safe Register website or by calling the Freefone helpline on 0800 408 5500.
You can also use this service to check if a business or engineer is Gas Safe-registered.
It’s always wise to check an engineer’s ID card to make sure they're registered and fully qualified before any work is carried out.
Over the past decade, Kate has worked in various industries, including company secretarial, small business support and property investing.
Her move to financial services in 2022 not only helped her find her niche in personal finance writing, but also just how alienating finance can be. She’s now motivated by making everyday money a piece of cake for everyone, helping her readers feel informed and in control.
Kate now specialises in savings and current accounts as well as broadband, mobile and energy products.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Dan is focused on helping people and businesses get the right deal for their energy in a volatile market. For more than 20 years, he has been introducing, developing and managing product propositions across a variety of industries, including energy, insurance and banking, all to get the right outcome for customers.
Our content is written by a Compare the Market expert, backed by data and enhanced by technology. Find out how we ensure accuracy and quality in our Editorial Guidelines.
