A gas leak at home is one of the few plumbing problems where the first two minutes matter more than anything a tradesperson does later. If you can smell that unmistakable rotten egg odour right now, stop reading, get everyone outside, and call the emergency gas leak number below from a safe distance.
If you are reading this because something smelled a bit off yesterday, or you want the household to know what to do, you are in exactly the right place. Here is how we handle it, and how you should too.
What to do immediately in a gas leak emergency
Work through these in order:
- Get everyone out. People and pets, out the front door, away from the building.
- Do not flick any switches on the way out. Not the lights, not the extraction fan.
- Open doors and windows on your way past, but only if you can do it without delay or risk.
- Turn off the gas at the meter, if it is safe to reach and you are confident doing it. Turn the main supply tap to the OFF position. Skip this step if the smell is strong or you feel unwell.
- Move well away from the property, then call for help from outside.
- Keep others back until the gas has been made safe.
The emergency gas leak number for Altona
Altona sits in the AusNet gas distribution area, which covers western metropolitan Melbourne.
- Gas leaks and emergencies (AusNet): 13 67 07, 24 hours (AusNet gas safety information)
- Fire, an explosion risk, or anyone unwell: 000, immediately
- Leak inside your home, after the gas is safe: call us on 03 6120 6333
Your distributor will make the network side safe, but they will not repair your internal pipework or appliances. That part is the job of a licensed gas leak plumber.
What NOT to do during a gas leak
This list matters as much as the first one. A single spark is all it takes.
- No electrical switches. Lights, fans, garage doors, ovens, air conditioners. Leave them exactly as they are.
- No phones inside. Do not call, do not text, do not use the torch. Step outside first.
- No matches, lighters or cigarettes. Obvious, but people still do it.
- No appliances. Do not try to relight a pilot light to test anything.
- No doorbells. They spark too.
- Do not go hunting for the leak with a naked flame or by pulling appliances apart.
Energy Safe Victoria is blunt about it: turn off the gas if you can, ventilate, do not operate electrical switches, and keep people away from the area (Energy Safe Victoria, gas emergencies).
Common signs of a gas leak
Natural gas has no smell of its own. The rotten egg odour is added deliberately so you can detect it. Watch for:
- A sulphur or rotten egg smell, indoors or near the meter
- A hissing or whistling sound near a gas line or appliance
- Dead or yellowing grass in a patch above an underground gas line
- Sooty black or brown marks around an appliance
- A yellow or orange flame on the cooktop instead of a crisp blue one
- Headaches, dizziness, nausea or fatigue that improve once you leave the house
- An unusually high gas bill with no change in usage
That last one is worth taking seriously. A slow leak can run for months without anyone noticing.
Emergency services or a gas leak plumber?
A simple rule:
- Call 000 if there is fire, a strong smell, an explosion risk, or anyone feeling unwell.
- Call your gas distributor (13 67 07) for a suspected leak in the street, at the meter, or if you are unsure where it is coming from.
- Call a licensed gas leak plumber once the property is safe, for anything on your side of the meter: pipework, connections, heaters, cooktops and hot water units.
Our 24/7 emergency plumbing team handles the third category across Altona, Altona North, Altona Meadows, Laverton, Williamstown and Newport, usually the same day.
What to tell them when you report a gas leak
Have this ready before you call:
- Your full address and nearest cross street
- Where you can smell or hear the leak
- How strong it is and how long it has been noticeable
- Whether anyone is unwell
- Whether you have turned the gas off at the meter
- Whether the smell is inside, outside, or both
What causes gas leaks in Altona homes
Most of what we find comes down to:
- Ageing steel or copper pipework, especially in older weatherboards near the beach where salt air accelerates corrosion
- Loose or worn connections, often after an appliance has been moved
- Faulty appliances, particularly heaters, cooktops and ageing gas hot water systems that have never been serviced
- Perished flexible hoses behind ovens and cookers
- DIY installation by someone unlicensed
- Ground movement disturbing buried lines
How we find and fix it
Electronic leak detection. We use a calibrated gas detector to sweep the line and pinpoint the source rather than guessing.
Pressure testing. We isolate and pressure test the gas line to confirm whether it holds, which tells us if the leak is in the pipework or an appliance.
Repair or replace. Depending on what we find, we replace a section of pipe, renew a fitting, fit a new flexible hose, or repair the appliance.
Appliance and carbon monoxide testing. We check combustion and flue performance, which is how we catch carbon monoxide risks in older heaters.
Compliance certificate. Every gas job we complete is signed off, which matters for insurance and for rental properties.
If a leak has damaged surrounding plumbing, our leak detection and pipe repair service covers that in the same visit.
Gas leak safety steps to prevent the next one
- Service every gas appliance every two years by a licensed gas fitter, including the heater, cooktop and hot water unit. This is the standard advice from AusNet and it is the single most effective thing you can do.
- Replace flexible hoses rather than waiting for them to perish.
- Fit a carbon monoxide alarm near bedrooms if you run gas heating.
- Never use unlicensed labour for gas work. It is illegal, and it voids your insurance.
- Know where your gas meter tap is and make sure everyone in the house does too.
- Keep the meter box clear of stored items and overgrown plants.
Why licensed matters
Gas work in Victoria must be done by a licensed gas fitter, full stop. Our team is licensed, insured and issues compliance certification on every job. That is not a selling point, it is the legal minimum, and it is worth checking before you let anyone near your gas line.
Book a gas leak plumber in Altona
Once the property is safe, call 03 6120 6333 or get in touch with Plumber Altona. We respond 24 hours a day across Altona and surrounding suburbs, with upfront pricing before we start.
While we are on site, we can also look at anything else that has been niggling away: a blocked drain, a running or leaking toilet, or a hot water unit that is on its last legs.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I smell gas?
Get everyone outside, avoid switches, phones and flames, open windows if it is safe, turn the gas off at the meter if you can reach it, then call your distributor from outdoors.
Who do I call in a gas leak emergency?
In Altona, call AusNet on 13 67 07 for the network or meter. Call 000 if there is fire or anyone is unwell. Call a licensed gas fitter for internal pipework and appliances.
Can I turn off the gas myself?
Yes, if the meter is safely accessible. Turn the main supply tap to the OFF position. If the smell is strong or you feel unwell, leave immediately and let the professionals handle it.
Can a plumber repair a gas leak?
Only a licensed gas fitter can. Our plumbers hold gas licensing, so we can detect, repair and certify leaks on your side of the meter, including appliances, connections and pipework.
How much does gas leak repair cost?
It depends on the location and cause. A perished hose is inexpensive; a corroded underground line costs more. We quote a fixed price after detection, before any work begins.
How long does it take to fix a gas leak?
Most leaks are located and repaired within one to three hours. Buried pipework or a full line replacement takes longer and may need a follow-up visit.
Do you provide 24/7 emergency gas leak services?
Yes. We run round-the-clock emergency call-outs across Altona, Altona North, Altona Meadows and neighbouring suburbs, with same-day attendance for urgent gas jobs.
How can I prevent gas leaks at home?
Service appliances every two years, replace ageing flexible hoses, fit a carbon monoxide alarm, and never let unlicensed people work on gas.