Smell Gas? What to Do Before the Gas Fitter Arrives

October 16, 2026
Reviewed by Peter Plummer, licensed plumber (licence 119671)

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If you smell gas in your Geelong home, put out any flames, don’t touch electrical switches, open doors and windows, and keep everyone away from the area. Turn the gas off at the meter only if it’s safe, report a natural gas leak to AusNet Services on 13 67 07, and call 000 if there’s a fire or anyone is in danger. Once everyone is safe, a licensed gas fitter can find and repair the leak. Here’s each step in order, the signs of a gas leak, and what happens next.

Fire, explosion or someone in danger? Get out and call 000 first.

What to do if you smell gas, step by step
Who to call for a gas leak in Geelong
Signs of a gas leak
What not to do
What happens when the gas fitter arrives
How to lower the risk of a gas leak
Frequently asked questions

What to do if you smell gas, step by step

These steps follow Energy Safe Victoria’s advice for a gas smell. Do what you safely can, in this order:

Put out all flames. Don’t smoke, strike matches or use a lighter.
Don’t operate electrical switches or devices. Leave lights and appliances as they are near the smell.
Open doors and windows to let the gas clear, if you’re inside.
Keep people away from the area where you can smell it.
Turn off the gas at the meter for natural gas, or at the cylinder or tank for LPG – but only if it’s safe to do so.
Report it. For natural gas in Geelong, call AusNet Services on 13 67 07 or the emergency number on your gas bill. For LPG, call the emergency number on your cylinder or tank.
Get a licensed gas fitter to find and repair the leak and turn the gas back on.

If there’s a small fire and it’s safe to act, Energy Safe Victoria says you can try to put it out with a fire blanket or a suitable extinguisher. If it isn’t safe, get out and call 000 – Triple Zero Victoria says to call in any emergency that puts life, health or property in danger.

Who to call for a gas leak in Geelong

Geelong’s natural gas network is run by AusNet Services, the distributor for central and western Victoria. Its gas leak number is 13 67 07, and your distributor’s emergency number is also printed on your gas bill. Energy Safe Victoria says you can call that number at any time to report a gas leak or other gas emergency. AusNet says you don’t need to turn your gas meter off before calling, and to stay away from any pipe you suspect is leaking.

Where the leak is decides who fixes it. AusNet asks you to call 13 67 07 for a leak near the meter or in the street. For a leak inside the home, its advice is to turn off appliances, pilot lights and the supply at the meter, open doors and windows, and contact a qualified gasfitter to repair the leak and turn the gas back on.

LPG isn’t on the AusNet network. Energy Safe Victoria says most LPG cylinders and tanks show the supplier’s name and emergency contact details, so keep those handy in case your cylinder or tank leaks.

Signs of a gas leak

Natural gas has no smell of its own. A rotten-egg smell is added so you can notice a leak. Watch for:

A rotten-egg smell indoors, around an appliance, or near the meter or gas pipes outside.
A hissing sound near a gas pipe, fitting or appliance.
A smell that comes back every time a particular appliance is used.

Energy Safe Victoria notes that some people have a reduced sense of smell and may not detect the added odour, so if anyone in the house says they can smell gas, take it seriously.

Carbon monoxide is different

Carbon monoxide is the gas a faulty or poorly ventilated gas heater can spill, and you can’t see or smell it at all. Energy Safe Victoria lists warning signs: dizziness, feeling sick or nauseous, headaches, people or pets getting sick at the same time, and feeling unwell only at home. If you notice them, leave the house and get into fresh air, turn off all gas appliances, open windows and doors, and call Nurse-on-Call, see a doctor or dial 000 in an emergency. Our gas heater service and repairs page explains how servicing reduces the risk.

What not to do

Don’t look for the leak with a match, lighter or candle.
Don’t switch lights, fans or appliances on or off near the smell.
Don’t try to fix the leak yourself. Energy Safe Victoria says gas work isn’t a DIY project, and it’s illegal for unlicensed people to do gasfitting work.
Don’t turn the gas back on yourself after a leak – leave that to the gas fitter once the repair is done and tested.
Don’t assume the smell will go away on its own.

What happens when the gas fitter arrives

A licensed gas fitter finds the leak, repairs it and tests the line before the gas goes back on. On our jobs that means a tightness test on the gas line, tracing the leak, repairing or replacing the faulty fitting, connection or section of pipe, then testing again.

Common causes are ageing seals, corroded fittings, a worn appliance connection, and pipework that’s been disturbed – during renovations, for example. If the repair means installing, replacing or relocating a gas appliance, or altering the gas piping, you should receive a compliance certificate within five days of the work being finished. Not sure who you’re letting in? Here’s how to check a gas fitter’s licence.

Plummers Plumbing covers gas emergencies 24/7, including weekends and public holidays. Once you’re safe, call 0447 134 432 and we’ll give you an honest arrival time. You can read more on our gas fitter in Geelong page and our 24/7 emergency plumbing page.

How to lower the risk of a gas leak

Have gas heaters, central heaters and gas water heaters serviced every two years by a qualified gasfitter, as Energy Safe Victoria and the Building and Plumbing Commission recommend.
Take care with mowers, brush cutters and digging so you don’t damage gas pipes or the meter. Energy Safe Victoria suggests lodging a free enquiry with Before You Dig Australia before you excavate.
Keep the area around your gas meter clear of anything flammable, as AusNet advises.
Never use a gas cooktop or oven to heat a room.

Frequently asked questions

Should I turn off the gas at the meter if I smell gas?

Only if it’s safe to do so. Energy Safe Victoria says to turn natural gas off at the meter, or LPG off at the cylinder or tank, only when you can do it safely. AusNet says you don’t need to turn the meter off before calling 13 67 07 to report a leak. If in doubt, get clear and make the call.

Who do I call for a gas leak in Geelong?

For natural gas, call AusNet Services, Geelong’s gas distributor, on 13 67 07, or the emergency number on your gas bill. For LPG, call the emergency number on your cylinder or tank. Call 000 if there’s a fire or anyone is in danger. A licensed gas fitter then repairs leaks on your side of the meter.

What does a gas leak smell like?

Like rotten eggs. Natural gas has no smell of its own, so an odour is added to help you notice a leak. If anyone in the house says they can smell gas, take it seriously, because Energy Safe Victoria notes that some people have a reduced sense of smell and may not pick it up.

Is it safe to stay inside if I smell gas?

Not if the smell is strong or spreading, or anyone feels unwell – leave the house, get into fresh air and make the calls from outside. For a faint smell, keep everyone away from the area where you can smell it, open doors and windows, put out any flames and don’t touch electrical switches.