Emergency gas-leak response
A suspected gas leak is an emergency safety concern, not an ordinary appliance fault or an online booking request. A strong gas smell, a hissing sound near equipment or signs of an uncontrolled release call for immediate protective action. Your first priority is to move people away from danger, not to determine which part needs replacing.
Leave the affected area
Move occupants and pets away from the suspected leak and into fresh air. Do not stay indoors to record videos, inspect connections or try to find the leak. Avoid flames, smoking and actions that could create sparks, including switching electrical devices on or off in the affected space. Do not use a telephone while still in the hazardous area.
Contact emergency help from safety
Once outside and in a safe place, contact the gas supplier or appropriate local emergency responders and follow their instructions. If the gas isolation point can be reached only by re-entering a suspected hazardous space, do not go back in to operate it. Isolating a supply is only appropriate when it is plainly safe and can be done without exposure or delay to evacuation.
Do not attempt gas-side repairs
Never search for a leak with a match or lighter, tighten a fitting while gas may be escaping, or dismantle the appliance to locate the sound. Professional leak detection and testing require correct equipment, safe procedures and authorised practitioners. It is also unsafe to restart equipment simply because the odour has faded. Permission to return to use should follow the required checks.
What to do after the incident
Keep affected equipment out of use until the relevant professional or emergency responder determines it is safe. Record the make and type of appliance later, once the premises are safe. A routine booking can be made for subsequent inspection or permitted repairs, but this website is not an emergency dispatch service and does not guarantee immediate response.
Why smell alone is not a complete test
LPG is normally odorised to make many leaks easier to detect, but no smell does not prove that an installation is safe. Other hazardous conditions, including combustion problems, may not be accompanied by a typical gas odour. Conversely, any credible report of an uncontrolled release should be treated cautiously, not investigated by sniffing fittings or performing homemade tests. Emergency responders and qualified gas professionals have procedures and instruments for making those judgments.
After emergency responders have made the area safe
Follow instructions about ventilation, isolation and reoccupation from responders or the gas supplier. Do not put an appliance back into service just because a fitting has been tightened or the smell appears to have gone away. The installation may require formal inspection or repair by an appropriately registered person. Once the site is safe, keep a record of the incident and any documentation supplied; this helps prevent repeated faults and supports future servicing without exposing occupants to another uncontrolled release.
Professional repair and related reading
For an appliance-specific service assessment, visit Suspected Gas Leak Assessment. Further reading: Yellow Gas Hob Flame or Soot: When to Stop Using It, Gas Installation Certificate of Conformity in South Africa.
Questions about this service
Should I open windows before leaving?
Do not delay evacuation or re-enter the space to ventilate it. Follow emergency responders’ guidance.
Can I test a suspected leak with a flame?
Never. An ignition source can trigger a fire or explosion.
Can I use the online booking form for an active leak?
No. Leave the area and contact emergency assistance from safety first.