Safety · 3 min read
Gas appliance safety at home
What to do if you smell gas, why you must use a Gas Safe registered engineer, and how to check the register.
Safety first — do not use the appliance
If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. For immediate danger call 999.
This professional guide has been compiled by the Kettlebridge engineering team to help you diagnose and, where safe, resolve common appliance issues. We provide these steps based on thousands of successful repairs across the UK.
Follow the troubleshooting steps below in order. Remember: safety is paramount. If you encounter any step that involves live electricity, gas connections, or complex disassembly that you are not comfortable with, stop immediately and contact a professional.
Step-by-step checks
- Know the smell. Natural gas has a distinctive rotten-egg odour. Take it seriously immediately.
- Ventilate and evacuate. Open windows and doors, leave the property, and phone 0800 111 999.
- Do not use switches, phones or flames near the leak. Any spark can ignite gas — call from outside the property.
Safety notes
- Emergency gas line: 0800 111 999.
- Only Gas Safe registered engineers may work on gas appliances by law.
When to book a repair
Annual servicing and any suspected fault. Ask to see the engineer's Gas Safe ID card — check the number on the Gas Safe Register.