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Gas safety tips

Get tips for managing your natural gas supply and appliances safely.

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Written by Origin
Updated over 2 weeks ago

Summary

Always call 000 immediately if there’s a risk to life or property.

Learn more about using your gas supply and gas appliances safely and responsibly.

Useful tips

Find your natural gas distributor

If your natural gas stops flowing, your distributor is usually the best person to call. They own and operate the pipes and meters that deliver gas to your home or business. Find your distributor here.

Gas leaks

If you smell gas in your home or street, make sure you call 000 straight away. You’ll find your local natural gas distributor and other emergency contacts on our emergencies page.

  • Turn off the gas at your gas meter or cylinder

  • Turn off all appliances, including your electrical appliances and pilot lights

  • Contact a licensed gas fitter to come and check out the problem

  • Open all of your doors and windows to help with ventilation, but only if it is safe to do so

  • Extinguish all naked flames if it’s safe to do so

Gas fires

If a fire breaks out and poses a threat to you, your family or your home, call 000 immediately.

  • Fire blankets are inexpensive, easy to use, and they’re a great addition to your kitchen. By simply pulling the tabs to open the blanket, you can smother a small fire

  • If you decide to invest in a small fire extinguisher for your home, make sure to choose the right type for the intended use. For example, you can choose an extinguisher for your kitchen designed for use on cooking oil and fat fires

  • You should also install smoke alarms in your home

  • If your clothing happens to catch fire, be sure to “stop, drop and roll” until the flames have been extinguished entirely

Gas safety during a storm

If you lose access to your gas supply during a storm, remember to turn off any gas appliances – that way, you’ll avoid an unwanted flow of gas through your appliances when the supply is restored.

If you have gas cylinders supplying gas to your home, our LPG safety tips – for home article explains how store and secure your cylinders during a storm.

Gas appliance safety

  1. Only have a qualified gas professional install and service your gas products, and maintain your gas meters and pressure regulators in a safe condition that’s free from damage

  2. Light a match or press the ignition button before turning on your gas burner – and remember to switch off your gas appliances when you’re sleeping or leaving home

  3. Your gas burner should only produce a blue flame, if it starts producing a yellow or red flame, call a technician immediately

  4. Always keep your outdoor gas heaters and other appliances outside

  5. Only use Australian Gas Industry (AGI) appliances, and equipment approved by the Australian Gas Association (AGA) and Standards Australia International (SAI) Global

Gas BBQ safety

  1. Check for gas leaks before use by spraying soapy water on the connection or hose. Keep an eye out for bubbles

  2. Remove all combustible material from around your barbeque before you fire it up

  3. Clean your barbeque after use to remove fat and oil build up

  4. Never use your barbeque indoors, or in a confined space

  5. If you own your own LPG bottle for your BBQ, get it tested and stamped by a qualified service professional every 5, 10 or 15 years (depending on your cylinder size and type). If we supply your LPG, we’ll take care of the testing. (The annual equipment fee you pay for the service covers this cost.)

Gas cylinder safely

Our LPG safety tips – for home article explains how store and use your gas cylinders

Renovating? Contact Before You Dig Australia

Planning a backyard or a home renovation? Before you start, make an online enquiry through the Before You Dig Australia website.

They’ll help you navigate your property’s underground cabling and piping. You may also need to have your gas lines turned off, so please give us a call on 13 24 61 to chat about your gas lines.

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