A suspected gas leak in Melton is not a situation to investigate yourself or wait and see with. Natural gas is highly flammable and, at higher concentrations, toxic to breathe. Whether you smell something sulphurous near your stove, your hot water unit, or an external gas line, the right response needs to happen quickly and in the right order. For homeowners, knowing exactly what to do before a licensed plumber Melton arrives can make a significant difference to the safety of everyone in the property.
This guide walks you through the correct steps to take during a suspected gas leak, what not to do, and what happens after the emergency has been made safe.
Why Gas Leaks Are Very Dangerous
Natural gas supplied to homes in Victoria is predominantly methane. It is odourless in its natural state, which is why gas distributors add a chemical called mercaptan to give it the distinctive rotten egg or sulphur smell most people associate with a gas leak. The smell is your first warning.
The risks associated with a gas leak fall into two main categories:
- Fire and explosion: Natural gas is flammable within a specific concentration range in air (roughly 5% to 15% by volume). Any ignition source within that range, including an electrical switch, a phone spark, or an open flame, can ignite the gas.
- Asphyxiation and carbon monoxide poisoning: In enclosed spaces, a gas leak can displace oxygen, making the air dangerous to breathe. Incomplete combustion from a leaking appliance can also produce carbon monoxide, which is colourless, odourless, and can be fatal at elevated levels.
Both risks mean that speed and composure matter enormously in the first few minutes after you suspect a leak.
Step 1: Don’t Touch Any Electrical Switches
The instinct when something feels wrong is often to turn a light on to see what’s happening. Resist that instinct completely.
- Do not turn lights on or off.
- Do not use any electrical appliances, including fans, air conditioners, or rangehood exhausts.
- Do not press any wall switches or doorbells.
- Do not operate a garage door opener if your garage connects to the house.
Electrical switches, even standard household ones, can produce a tiny spark when toggled. In a gas-filled environment, that spark is all it takes. Leave every light and appliance in whatever state it currently is as you move through the building to leave.
Step 2: Don’t Use Your Mobile Phone Indoors
A mobile phone is an electronic device that produces radio frequency signals and, when ringing or transmitting, can generate a very small electrical discharge. The risk is low but not zero, and in a suspected gas leak situation, low-risk is not acceptable.
- Pick up your phone and take it with you as you leave.
- Do not call anyone, check messages, or use the phone until you are outside and well clear of the building.
- Do not use cordless landline handsets either, as these transmit signals in the same way.
Once you are outside and at a safe distance, your phone is the most important tool you have to call for help.
Step 3: Leave the Building Immediately
Leave the property as quickly and calmly as you can. Panic causes mistakes; calm and deliberate movement gets everyone out safely.
- Open doors and windows as you pass through them to ventilate the space and reduce gas concentration.
- Do not stop to collect belongings, valuables, or pets. Leave them.
- If you can do so without delay, take other occupants with you and alert anyone else in the building.
- Once outside, move well away from the building before stopping. Do not linger near windows, doors, or vents where gas may be escaping.
In Melton and Bacchus Marsh, many properties have attached garages or enclosed outdoor areas adjacent to gas appliances. Be aware of these spaces as you exit and avoid them if possible, as gas can accumulate in semi-enclosed outdoor areas as readily as indoors.
Step 4: Turn Off the Gas at the Meter If Safe to Do So
If the gas meter is located outside the property, away from the suspected leak source, and you can access it safely without re-entering the building, turning off the gas supply will stop more gas from entering the property.
- The gas meter is typically located at the front of the property near the boundary, either in a meter box or mounted on an external wall.
- The shutoff valve is a lever or handle on the meter. Turn it a quarter turn (90 degrees) so that the lever sits across the pipe rather than along it. This closes the valve.
- If there is a strong smell of gas directly at the meter, do not touch anything near it. Move away and call the emergency line instead.
- If you are unsure where the meter is or how to operate it safely, skip this step entirely and go straight to calling for help.
It is worth familiarising yourself with the location of your gas meter before an emergency occurs. This is especially relevant for Bacchus Marsh properties, many of which have older meter configurations that may differ from newer Melton estate homes.
Step 5: Call the Gas Emergency Line
Once you are outside and clear of the building, call the gas emergency line. In Victoria, the relevant numbers depend on your gas distributor:
- APA Group (formerly Multinet Gas): 132 771. This is the distributor for most of Melbourne’s western suburbs, including Melton and Bacchus Marsh.
- 1800 GAS LEAK (1800 427 532): This is the general gas emergency number that routes to the appropriate distributor based on your location.
These lines are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When you call, provide your address, describe what you noticed (smell, hissing sound, dead vegetation above a suspected underground line), and confirm whether anyone remains inside the property. The distributor will dispatch an emergency crew to isolate the gas supply at the street level if needed and to make the property safe.
If anyone inside the property is showing symptoms of gas inhalation, such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, or difficulty breathing, call 000 immediately alongside the gas emergency line. These symptoms can escalate quickly.
Step 6: Don’t Re-Enter Until Cleared
This step is where people most commonly make a dangerous mistake. Once the smell of gas appears to have gone or diminished, it is tempting to assume the danger has passed.
- Do not re-enter the property until the gas company or emergency services have inspected the building and formally declared it safe.
- Gas can remain in pockets inside walls, under floors, and in low-lying areas long after the smell at nose level has faded.
- If the gas meter has been turned off by the distributor’s crew, the supply will remain off until a licensed gas plumber has located and repaired the source of the leak and issued the appropriate compliance documentation.
Emergency crews are equipped with gas detection instruments that can measure concentrations accurately. Rely on their assessment, not on whether you can still smell it.
Step 7: Call a Licensed Gas Plumber
Once the immediate emergency is resolved and the distributor’s crew has isolated the gas supply, the property will remain without gas service until the source of the leak has been found and repaired by a licensed gas plumber. This is not optional under Victorian regulations: gas supply to a property cannot be legally restored after an emergency isolation without a licensed tradesperson completing and certifying the repair.
- What a gas plumber will do: Use specialist leak detection equipment, including electronic gas detectors and pressure testing, to precisely locate the source of the leak.
- Common leak sources: Corroded or cracked pipe sections, failed appliance connections, deteriorated flexible hose connectors behind stoves or dryers, and damaged or aged valves at appliance isolating points.
- After the repair: The plumber will pressure test the entire gas system to confirm the integrity of all pipework before reconnecting the supply. They will issue a Certificate of Compliance for the repair work.
Common Signs of a Gas Leak to Know in Advance
Knowing the warning signs before an emergency helps you respond faster and more confidently. In Melton and Bacchus Marsh homes, the following indicators are worth knowing:
- Sulphur or rotten egg smell: The most obvious sign. Even a faint smell near a gas appliance warrants investigation.
- Hissing or whistling sound: A continuous hiss near a gas line, appliance, or meter indicates pressurised gas escaping through a breach.
- Dead or dying vegetation: In gardens or lawns above underground gas lines, unexplained patches of dead grass or discoloured vegetation can indicate a slow underground leak.
- Bubbling in wet areas: Gas escaping from an underground pipe near a drain or wet soil may produce bubbling.
- Physical symptoms without an obvious cause: Persistent headaches, nausea, fatigue, or dizziness experienced by household members, particularly in poorly ventilated rooms near gas appliances, should prompt a gas safety check.
- Higher than expected gas bills: An unexplained increase in gas consumption without a change in usage patterns can indicate a slow leak somewhere in the system.
Gas Safety Checks for Homeowners
Victorian gas safety regulations do not prescribe a mandatory routine inspection interval for residential gas systems in the same way that some other states do. However, responsible practice is to have your gas appliances and pipework inspected by a licensed gas plumber every two years, or any time you notice one of the warning signs listed above.
Older homes in Bacchus Marsh in particular may have aged flexible connectors behind appliances, corroded section joints, or outdated wall furnace and space heater connections that have never been inspected since original installation. These present a higher leak risk than newer installations.
- Have all flexible hose connectors behind your stove, oven, and dryer replaced if they are more than five years old. These connectors have a finite service life.
- Ensure all gas appliances are serviced according to manufacturer recommendations.
- If you have a wall furnace or ducted heating unit that has not been serviced in several years, arrange a service and carbon monoxide check before the next heating season.
- Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed in rooms where gas appliances operate. These are separate from smoke detectors and detect CO specifically.
What Happens After the Emergency: Restoring Gas Service
After a gas leak is repaired, restoring service involves several steps. Understanding these in advance removes the frustration of not knowing what to expect:
- Plumber completes and certifies the repair: The licensed gas plumber tests the system, confirms no residual leaks, and issues a Certificate of Compliance.
- Gas distributor restores supply: The distributor’s crew returns to restore gas at the meter. This is typically the same day for urgent residential repairs.
- Appliance recommissioning: After the supply is restored, gas appliances such as hot water units, heating systems, and stoves need to be relit and recommissioned if pilot lights have gone out. Your plumber can assist with this.
Conclusion
A gas leak is one of the few household situations where doing the right thing in the first two minutes can prevent a serious outcome. Stay calm, avoid every ignition source, get everyone out, shut off the meter if accessible, and call the emergency line from outside. Do not go back in until you are told it is safe. Once the immediate danger is resolved, the next call is to a licensed gas plumber in Bacchus Marsh or Melton to find the source and get your home back to normal.
If you are in West Melbourne and you have had a gas leak, or you simply want your gas system inspected for peace of mind, contact New Image Plumbing and Gas on 0489 246 667 or submit our online form. Our licensed gas fitters are available seven days a week and respond to gas emergencies promptly. We give you a clear explanation of what we find and a straight quote before any work begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the gas emergency number in Victoria?
For a gas emergency in Victoria, call 1800 GAS LEAK (1800 427 532). This line is operated 24 hours a day by the gas distributor. They can dispatch a crew to isolate the gas supply to your property. You should also call a licensed gas plumber to locate and repair the source of the leak before gas service is restored. In Melton and Bacchus Marsh, APA Group (132 771) is the relevant gas distributor for most properties.
Should I turn the gas off at the meter during a suspected leak?
Yes, if it is safe to do so and the meter is located outside and away from the source of the smell. The gas meter is usually located outside near the front of the property. Turn the valve a quarter turn so it sits at a right angle to the pipe to close it. Do not operate the valve if there is a strong smell of gas directly at the meter. Move away and call the emergency line instead.
Can I re-enter the property once the gas smell has gone?
Not until the property has been inspected by the gas company or emergency services and declared safe, or until a licensed gas plumber has identified and repaired the leak source. The absence of smell does not confirm the leak has stopped. It may simply mean the concentration has dispersed temporarily, or that gas has accumulated in a location where you cannot detect it by smell alone.
What should I NOT do if I suspect a gas leak?
Do not turn any electrical switches on or off, use your phone inside the property, operate doorbells or intercoms, light a match or cigarette, or start a car in an attached garage. Any spark or ignition source in the presence of a gas build-up can trigger a fire or explosion. These actions should be avoided even if the smell seems faint or you are not certain it is gas.
How long does it take to fix a gas leak?
Repair time depends on where the leak is located and what caused it. A leaking appliance connection or flexible hose can often be repaired or replaced in under an hour. A corroded section of underground pipework or a leak inside a wall cavity takes longer to locate and access. A plumber will give you a clearer timeframe once they have completed the detection process and located the source. In most residential cases, the repair and pressure testing can be completed in a single visit.
