Photo by Vladimir Srajber on Pexels
A gas leak. An appliance malfunction. A pipe that's been accidentally damaged during renovations. In any of these situations, your ability to quickly and correctly shut off the gas supply to your Gold Coast home could be the difference between a managed emergency and a catastrophe. Yet most homeowners have never actually located their gas shutoff valve, let alone practised turning it off.
This is not a piece of knowledge to acquire during an emergency. Knowing where your gas shutoffs are and how to use them — before you ever need them — is essential home safety knowledge, especially in Queensland where natural gas is used for hot water systems, cooking, and heating in hundreds of thousands of homes.
This guide covers exactly what to do in a gas emergency step-by-step, where to find your shutoffs, and what's safe to do yourself versus when you need to call professionals immediately.
How to Recognise a Gas Emergency
Know the signs of a gas leak or emergency:
- Smell of gas: Natural gas has a distinctive rotten egg-type odour added specifically for detection (the gas itself is odourless). If you smell it, take it seriously.
- Hissing sound near a gas appliance or pipe — can indicate a pressurised gas leak
- Dead or dying vegetation in a patch over or near buried gas lines — gas escaping underground kills soil microbial activity and plant life
- Bubbles in standing water near a gas line — underground gas leaking through water
- Physical symptoms — headache, dizziness, or nausea without other explanation when indoors can indicate CO or gas accumulation, especially in poorly ventilated spaces
- A gas appliance that won't light but you can still smell gas — gas is flowing but not igniting
If you smell gas:
- Don't turn any electrical switches on or off — the spark can ignite gas
- Don't use your phone inside the property
- Extinguish all naked flames
- Open doors and windows as you move toward the exit
- Get everyone out of the building immediately
- Call the emergency gas line from a safe distance: 132 771 (Origin Energy) / 13 19 09 (AGL) or your gas provider's emergency number — they operate 24/7
- Call 000 if you believe there's immediate danger
Finding Your Gas Shutoffs
There are typically two levels of gas shutoff relevant to Gold Coast homeowners:
1. The Main Gas Meter Shutoff (Property-Level)
Your gas meter is located either at the front of your property (usually near or on the boundary fence) or on an external wall. Near the meter is a master shutoff valve — the most important one to know.
How it works:
The master shutoff is typically a lever valve. When the lever is parallel to the pipe, the gas is ON. When the lever is perpendicular (across) to the pipe, the gas is fully OFF.
A quarter turn is all that's needed to close it.
Note:
Turning off the meter shutoff cuts gas to the entire property. After a gas emergency has been resolved and the property declared safe by a professional, the gas provider must typically re-establish supply and relight pilot lights.
2. Individual Appliance Shutoffs
Each gas appliance (hot water system, stove, gas heater) should have its own dedicated shutoff valve in the gas supply line near the appliance. These are for maintenance and appliance-specific fault isolation.
Location tips:
- Gas hot water system: Shutoff typically on the gas inlet pipe within 300mm of the unit
- Gas cooktop: Shutoff behind or under the stove, or in the cabinet below
- Gas ducted heater: Shutoff on the gas inlet line near the unit — often in the roof space or under the floor
Identify all your appliance shutoffs now, before you ever need them.
Walk through your home with this guide and locate each one. Note that some older homes may only have the meter-level shutoff without individual appliance shutoffs — if that's the case, a licensed plumber should install individual appliance shutoffs at your next service.
How to Turn Off the Gas: Step-by-Step
For a Suspected Gas Leak (Emergency)
- Do not create any ignition sources — no lights, no switches, no phones, no candles
- Move toward exits, opening windows and doors as you go to ventilate
- Shut the main gas shutoff at the meter as you exit (quarter turn perpendicular to pipe)
- Leave the property — do not go back inside
- Call the gas emergency line from outside
- Do not re-enter until cleared by the gas provider or emergency services
For a Non-Emergency Shutoff (Appliance Repair/Maintenance)
- Locate the specific appliance shutoff valve
- Turn it a quarter turn so the lever is perpendicular to the pipe — gas is now OFF to that appliance only
- Proceed with maintenance or repair
- Turn back on by rotating the quarter turn back to parallel (ON) position
- Re-light any pilot lights if applicable
After the Emergency: Re-Establishing Gas Supply
After a gas leak has been resolved and the property declared safe:
- Don't attempt to turn the gas back on yourself if the main was turned off for a suspected leak — the gas provider must re-establish supply, check the system, and relight pilot lights
- All gas appliances need relighting after the main supply is restored — follow the manufacturer's instructions for each appliance
- Have the gas line and appliances inspected by a licensed gas fitter before being returned to service if a leak was found
When to Call a Licensed Gas Fitter
In Queensland, gas work is licensed — you cannot legally repair gas fittings, pipes, or appliances yourself. After any gas emergency, or for any of the following, call a licensed professional:
- Any suspected gas leak or smell, even minor — don't wait or assume it'll resolve itself
- Appliances that don't ignite reliably or pilot lights that keep going out
- Any damage to gas lines from excavation, renovation, or impact
- Adding a new gas appliance — all gas connections must be made by a licensed plumber/gas fitter
- Annual gas system check — strongly recommended for homes with gas appliances
Coastal Plumbing Professionals holds Queensland gas fitting licences and can inspect, repair, and certify gas systems across Gold Coast. Call 1300 590 085 for any gas-related plumbing work.
Quick Reference: Emergency Gas Numbers
| Provider | Emergency Line |
|---|---|
| Origin Energy | 132 771 |
| AGL | 13 19 09 |
| Energex (Gas Distribution) | 13 19 09 |
| Emergencies | 000 |
Save these numbers in your phone now — not when you need them.
Final Thoughts
Gas emergencies are rare, but when they happen, the actions you take in the first 60 seconds matter enormously. Knowing where your gas shutoffs are and having the muscle memory to use them quickly — combined with knowing when to leave the property and call professionals — is the foundation of gas safety for every Gold Coast homeowner.
If you've never located your gas shutoffs or had your gas system inspected, Coastal Plumbing Professionals offers gas safety checks and can install or upgrade appliance-level shutoff valves throughout Queensland. Call 1300 590 085 or visit coastalplumbingprofessionals.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I suspect a gas leak but I'm not sure?
Treat it as a gas leak regardless. Get out, don't use electrical switches, open doors as you go, and call the gas emergency line from outside. Being cautious and wrong is infinitely better than being wrong in the other direction.
Can I turn the gas back on at the meter myself after turning it off?
If you turned the gas off for maintenance on a specific appliance, yes — turn the appliance shutoff back on first before turning the meter on. If the main was turned off for a suspected leak, the gas provider must re-establish supply and inspect the system — don't turn it on yourself.
What does natural gas smell like?
Natural gas is odourless, but gas companies add mercaptan — a sulphur-based chemical — specifically to make it detectable. The smell is commonly described as rotten eggs or a distinctive petroleum-like chemical smell. Even a faint whiff of this smell warrants immediate action.
Is it dangerous to turn the gas off at the meter?
No — turning off the meter shutoff is safe and is exactly what it's designed for. The risk in a gas emergency comes from ignition sources (electrical switches, flames) and from staying in a gas-filled space. Shutting the meter as you exit is a positive, life-safety action.
How do I relight my gas hot water system pilot light?
After gas supply is restored, follow the specific instructions for your hot water system model — these are usually on the front panel or door of the unit. The general process involves turning the thermostat to "pilot", pressing the ignition button while holding the pilot reset, then gradually returning the thermostat to the desired temperature once the pilot is established.
Resources
- Coastal Plumbing Professionals – Gas Plumbing Gold Coast
- Queensland Fire and Emergency Services – Gas Safety
- Work Health and Safety Queensland – Gas Safety
