Emergency Gas Fitter: What to Do if You Smell Gas in Your Home
Knowing what to do when you smell gas can prevent serious injury, property damage, or worse. This guide covers the immediate steps every Morwell, VIC, household should take, when to call an emergency gas fitter, and how Victoria's gas safety rules protect you.
What to Do First When You Smell Gas
Leave the building immediately. Do not touch anything electrical on the way out.
Gas has a distinctive rotten-egg smell added deliberately so you can detect it. If that smell is present indoors, treat it as a real emergency every time.
Follow these steps in order:
- Do not turn any electrical switches on or off. A single spark can ignite escaped gas.
- Do not use your phone inside the building. Step outside first.
- Turn off the gas supply at the meter if it is safe to reach on the way out. The shutoff lever turns 90 degrees across the pipe.
- Open doors and windows as you leave to help ventilate the space.
- Get everyone, including pets, out of the building and move well away from it.
- Call 000 if you believe lives or property are at risk.
- Call your gas distributor's emergency line. In the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland region, Australian Gas Networks handles the distribution network. Their emergency line is 1800 427 532. Check your last gas bill to confirm your distributor.
Do not re-enter the home until emergency services or your gas distributor has declared it safe. Once the scene is secured, call an emergency gas fitter to inspect your internal system before resuming use of any gas appliances.
What Not to Do During a Gas Leak
Never attempt DIY repairs on a gas system. Only a licensed gas fitter can legally work on gas pipes and appliances in Victoria. Also avoid the following:
- Do not smoke or use a lighter anywhere near the building.
- Do not use any appliances, including your stove, heater, or hot water system.
- Do not start your car if it is parked inside or close to the affected area.
- Do not assume a faint smell means a small problem. Even minor leaks can accumulate in enclosed spaces and reach dangerous concentrations quickly.
Gas Distributor vs Emergency Gas Fitter: Who Do You Call?
Your gas distributor, such as Australian Gas Networks (1800 427 532) for much of the Gippsland area, is responsible for the network pipes, street mains, and pipework leading to your meter. If the leak originates there, the distributor repairs it at no cost to you.
An emergency gas fitter handles everything on your side of the meter, including internal pipes, gas appliances, and any gas fitting connected to your property's system. After the distributor has made the supply safe, a licensed emergency gas fitter can locate the source of the leak, carry out repairs, and relight appliances safely. You should not relight appliances yourself after a gas event.
In Morwell, VIC, a local emergency gas fitter familiar with the Latrobe Valley can respond quickly and is experienced with ducted gas heating and gas log fires common across the region.
VIC Licensing: Why It Matters for Gas Work
Licensed gas fitters in Victoria must be registered with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) and must issue a compliance certificate after completing any gas work. This certificate is your protection if an insurance claim or dispute arises later. You can verify a gas fitter's licence for free at vba.vic.gov.au. Only licensed professionals are permitted to work on gas systems; DIY gas repairs put your home and neighbours at risk.
What Does a Compliance Certificate Cover?
It confirms completed gas work meets Victorian safety standards. Required for new installations, major repairs, and appliance connections. Keep your copy after every job.
How Do I Know if My Gas Fitter Is Qualified?
Ask to see their licence card on arrival. Call Energy Safe Victoria on 1800 815 721 to verify their licence status.
Should I Get My Gas System Checked Regularly?
Yes. Inspections every couple of years catch pinhole leaks and deteriorating connections before they become emergencies, especially in older Latrobe Valley homes.
Contact Millers Plumbing Pty Ltd for Gas Fitting
If you have dealt with the immediate emergency and need a licensed emergency gas fitter to inspect, repair, or certify your gas system, Millers Plumbing Pty Ltd serves Morwell and the wider Gippsland area. Fully licensed and OH&S compliant, the team carries out residential gas fitting and plumbing services across the Latrobe Valley, including Traralgon, Moe, Churchill, and surrounding communities.
Call 03 5134 4322 to speak with the team, or get in touch online to request a callback or book a service. You can also find and review Millers Plumbing Pty Ltd on Google.
Gas safety is not something to leave to chance. Act fast, call the right people, and let a qualified professional make your home safe again.
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