Gas·15 Sept 2026 · 3 min read
By Mohammed Miah, Gas Safe registered heating engineer
Most people know to look out for the smell of gas, a distinctive, slightly sulphurous odour added deliberately, since natural gas itself has no smell. But the smell isn't always strong, and it isn't the only sign worth knowing.
Other signs of a possible leak
- A hissing sound near a gas pipe, meter or appliance.
- Dead or discoloured vegetation above an underground gas pipe outside.
- Bubbles in standing water, a puddle or waterlogged ground above a buried pipe.
- A higher than usual gas bill with no obvious explanation.
- Feeling unusually drowsy, dizzy or nauseous while at home, which can also point to a related carbon monoxide issue.
If you notice any of these
- Turn off the gas supply at the meter if it's safe to do so.
- Open windows and doors to ventilate.
- Put out any flames, don't smoke.
- Don't touch electrical switches, including light switches and doorbells, a spark can ignite gas.
- Get outside before using a mobile phone.
- Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
Once the emergency service confirms it's safe, get in touch with us to find and fix the actual cause. Trust the signs over reassurance, if something feels off, it's always worth calling it in.
