If you smell gas at your home in Bristol or Bath, call the National Gas Emergency Service straight away on 0800 111 999. It’s free and open 24 hours a day. Open doors and windows, don’t touch any electrical switches, turn off the gas at the meter if you can safely reach it, and get everyone outside. Once the emergency service has made your home safe, a Gas Safe registered engineer will need to repair the faulty appliance, which our service and repairs team can help with.
What to do, step by step
1. Call 0800 111 999
Call the National Gas Emergency Service. Ideally, make the call from outside the property or from a neighbour’s house. If you’re in a flat or shared building and smell gas in a communal area, call the same number.
2. Open doors and windows
Let fresh air in to help the gas disperse.
3. Turn off the gas at the meter
Your meter will have an emergency control valve, a lever on the pipe next to it. Turn the lever so it sits at a right angle to the pipe. Only do this if you can get to it safely and quickly. If the meter is in a cellar or cupboard full of the smell, leave it.
4. Get everyone out
Leave the property with everyone in it, including pets, and wait outside or at a neighbour’s for the emergency engineer to arrive.
What not to do
Gas can ignite from the smallest spark, so avoid anything that might create one:
- Don’t switch lights or any electrical appliances on or off
- Don’t use doorbells, phones or plugs inside the property
- Don’t smoke, light matches or use any naked flame
- Don’t try to find the leak yourself
What happens next
When the emergency engineer arrives, they’ll find where the gas is escaping and make the property safe. That might mean isolating a particular appliance or capping the supply. Their job is to make things safe, not to repair your boiler, cooker or fire.
Once your home is safe, you’ll need a Gas Safe registered engineer to repair or replace whatever caused the problem before the gas can go back into use. The emergency engineer will usually leave a notice explaining what they’ve done and why.
Is it gas or something else?
Natural gas has no smell of its own. Suppliers add a distinctive odour, often compared to rotten eggs or sulphur, so leaks can be noticed. Sometimes a similar smell comes from drains, bins or a newly lit appliance burning off dust. If you’re in any doubt, treat it as a gas leak and call 0800 111 999. They would much rather check and find nothing.
Carbon monoxide: the danger you can’t smell
A gas leak and carbon monoxide are different things. Carbon monoxide comes from fuel that isn’t burning properly and has no smell at all. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness and tiredness that ease when you leave the house can be a sign. A working CO alarm, plus regular boiler servicing, is the best protection. If you suspect carbon monoxide, follow the same steps above, call 0800 111 999 and get medical advice.
Gas safety in Bristol and Bath homes
From older houses in Bath to flats across central Bristol, many homes have gas pipework that has been altered or extended over the years. Having your boiler and other gas appliances checked regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer is the simplest way to reduce the risk of leaks and faults. We look after homes right across the area, from Keynsham to Portishead.
Frequently asked questions
Who do I call if I smell gas?
In England, Scotland and Wales, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. The line is free and open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call from outside the property if you can, and follow the advice they give you while you wait for an engineer.
Where is the gas emergency control valve?
It’s usually next to your gas meter, which might be in an outside box, a cupboard under the stairs, a garage or a cellar. The valve has a lever on the pipe. When the lever is in line with the pipe, the gas is on. Turn it a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe to switch it off.
Can I use my boiler after a gas leak?
Not until it’s been checked. If the emergency engineer has isolated your boiler or capped the supply, it must stay off until a Gas Safe registered engineer has repaired the fault and confirmed it’s safe to use. Using an appliance that has been disconnected as unsafe puts everyone in the home at risk.
Need a faulty gas appliance repaired?
If the emergency service has made your home safe and you now need your boiler or another gas appliance repaired, give us a call on 01275 400 687 or drop us a message and we’ll arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to fix the problem and get your heating back on.