Gas is a reliable, affordable way to heat a home and cook, but it needs respect. A few regular habits keep your family safe and your appliances running well.

Know the warning signs

A rotten egg smell is added to gas on purpose so you can detect a leak. Other signs are a yellow or orange flame instead of blue, soot or scorch marks around an appliance, a pilot light that keeps going out, and condensation on windows near a heater. Headaches and tiredness while a heater is running can point to carbon monoxide, which has no smell.

If you smell gas

Do not use switches or lighters. Open doors and windows, keep people away, and call the gas emergency number on your gas bill. Call 000 if there is a fire or emergency.

Get heaters serviced

Gas heaters need airflow to burn safely. Dust, blocked flues and worn parts can lead to poor combustion. A service every couple of years by a licensed gas fitter, before winter, is sensible. Older heaters and unflued heaters need extra care and may be worth replacing.

Keep vents and flues clear

Never block the vents on a heater or a hot water unit. Do not store boxes against them. Check outside flues for bird nests and leaves.

Leave gas work to licensed fitters

Gas fitting is regulated work. Installing or replacing a gas appliance or working on consumer gas piping must be done by a licensed person, and a compliance certificate has to be lodged. DIY gas work is dangerous and may void your insurance.

Check outdoor and portable gas

If you have an outdoor kitchen or a gas barbecue connected to a bayonet point, check hoses for cracks. Brush soapy water on connections and look for bubbles. Replace perished hoses. Never use outdoor gas appliances indoors.

Fitting new appliances

If you are adding a gas cooktop, heater or hot water system, we can check your gas meter capacity and pipe size so the appliance gets enough supply. This avoids weak flames and poor performance.

Carbon monoxide: the risk you cannot smell

Carbon monoxide is made when gas does not burn fully. It has no colour and no smell, which is why it is so dangerous. Early signs are headaches, dizziness, feeling sick and being unusually tired, often easing when you leave the house. If more than one person in the home feels this way when the heater is on, turn it off, open the windows, get outside into fresh air and seek medical advice. Then have the appliance checked by a licensed gas fitter before you use it again.

A carbon monoxide alarm is a sensible extra layer, but it is not a replacement for servicing. Treat it like a smoke alarm. Test it, replace it when it expires, and never remove the batteries.

Older appliances need more attention

Heaters, cooktops and hot water units that are 15 or 20 years old may lack modern safety features such as flame failure devices. Parts also become hard to find. If an old appliance needs a major repair, ask your fitter to compare the repair cost with the cost of a new, more efficient unit. Often the new unit pays for itself in lower gas use and fewer worries.

What to ask a gas fitter

Ask to see their licence. Ask what they will check during a service, such as burner flame, gas pressure, flue draw and safety cut-offs. Ask whether a compliance certificate will be lodged for any new installation or replacement. A good fitter will explain what they found in plain words and show you any worn parts.

Cooktops and ovens

Gas cooktop flames should be steady and blue. If a burner clicks but does not light, or the flame is lazy and yellow, food spills may be blocking the burner ports. Switch it off and let it cool, then clean the burner cap and ports with a soft brush. If the problem stays, have it checked. Never use an oven to heat your home. It is not designed for that and it can build up dangerous gas.

Moving house or renovating

If you are buying or renting a home with gas appliances, ask when they were last serviced. If you are renovating, tell your plumber before the builder moves walls or cabinets near gas pipes. Moving a cooktop or heater changes the pipe run, and the new layout must be tested for leaks and signed off.

What to do before winter, not during it

The first cold night is when most people turn the gas heater on for the first time in months. That is the wrong time to find out the pilot will not light, the flame is yellow or the flue is blocked. Run the heater for a short test on a mild day. Look at the flame, which should be steady and mostly blue. Check for soot marks around the heater. Make sure vents and flues are clear.

If anything looks wrong, turn it off and arrange a service. Do not rely on your nose, because carbon monoxide has no smell. Headaches, dizziness or tiredness that ease when you leave the room are a reason to turn the appliance off, get fresh air and seek medical advice.

Rental and holiday home gas safety

If you rent out a property, make sure gas appliances are safe and serviced and that tenants know how to report a smell of gas. If you are a tenant, report any fault in writing and do not use an appliance you think is unsafe. In a holiday house that sits empty for long periods, check gas appliances before guests arrive.

LPG users should know where the cylinder is, where the valve is and who supplies it. The emergency details are usually on the cylinder or the supplier paperwork.

Quick monthly habits

Look at the flame on your cooktop, listen for unusual noises from the heater, check that vents are clear and dust the heater grille. These two-minute checks catch trouble early.

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