If you smell gas, don't touch any electrical switches, flames or appliances. Open doors and windows, get everyone outside to fresh air, and turn the gas off at the meter only if it's safe to reach. Then call a licensed gas fitter — Eagle Plumbing 24/7 provides 24 hour emergency gas help across Sydney.
What to do the moment you smell gas
A rotten-egg or sulphur smell means gas is escaping, and it needs to be treated as an emergency. The safest thing you can do is avoid anything that could create a spark and get people out.
- 1Don't touch light switches, power points or any electrical appliance — a tiny spark is all it takes.
- 2Put out any open flames and don't light matches or lighters.
- 3Open doors and windows to let the gas clear.
- 4Get everyone, including pets, outside to fresh air.
- 5If the gas meter is easy and safe to reach, turn it off at the valve.
Once you're safely outside, call us on 0489 998 221. Don't make the call from inside — phone us in the fresh air, away from the smell.
Why you should never try to find the leak yourself
It's natural to want to hunt down where the smell is coming from, but a gas leak is one job you should never DIY. Gas work in NSW is legally restricted to licensed gas fitters for good reason — the risks are fire, explosion and carbon monoxide, none of which are worth chancing.
- ›Leaks often come from fittings, joints or appliances hidden inside walls or under floors.
- ›Testing for a leak the wrong way can ignite it.
- ›Only a licensed gas fitter has the equipment to safely locate and confirm a leak.
Warning signs of a gas problem
Sometimes a gas issue shows up before you notice a strong smell. Call a licensed gas fitter if you spot any of these:
- ›A faint gas or sulphur smell that comes and goes.
- ›A hissing sound near a gas line or appliance.
- ›A gas heater or cooktop burning with a lazy yellow or orange flame instead of crisp blue.
- ›Unexplained headaches, nausea or drowsiness indoors that ease when you go outside.
Symptoms like headaches or nausea can point to carbon monoxide, which is odourless. If anyone feels unwell, get outside and seek medical help straight away.
Get a licensed gas fitter out fast
Eagle Plumbing 24/7 is a licensed, family-owned team (NSW Licence 498336C) available 24 hours a day across Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and the Illawarra. We carry $20 million public liability insurance and back our work with a lifetime workmanship guarantee. If you suspect a gas leak, get to safety and call 0489 998 221 — we'll get a gas fitter to you as fast as possible.