Home / Guides / What to do if you smell gas
What to do if you smell gas
Open doors and windows, turn the gas off at the meter, don’t touch electrical switches or use naked flames, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. It’s free, 24 hours a day.
- 0800 111 999National Gas Emergency Service
- 24/7free to call
- 90°turn of the meter valve handle shuts the gas off
24/7free to call
If you smell gas, don’t wait to see if it goes away, and don’t call us first. Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. It’s free and open 24 hours a day.
In Fife and the rest of Scotland, the engineers who come out are from SGN, the gas network. Here’s exactly what to do, and what happens after.
What to do
From Gas Safe Register’s advice.
Get fresh air in
Open all doors and windows to ventilate the area.
Turn the gas off
Turn off the emergency control valve at the meter. The handle turns a quarter turn so it’s across the pipe. Don’t go into a cellar or basement to do it.
No sparks
Don’t smoke or use naked flames, and don’t turn electrical switches on or off, including lights. They can ignite escaping gas.
Call 0800 111 999
Call the National Gas Emergency Service from outside, or well away from the smell. If you feel unwell, get out into the fresh air first.
Don’t turn it back on
Leave the gas off until it’s been checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
What happens next
The emergency service makes it safe. It doesn’t repair.
An SGN engineer will come out, find where the gas is coming from and make it safe. They carry ID, and they’ll tell you what to do next.
If the problem is with an appliance, like your boiler, hob or fire, they’ll isolate it, often capping it off and labelling it Danger Do Not Use. They don’t repair appliances.
Then what?
- Leave the appliance off
- Book a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Don’t use it until it’s been fixed and checked
It’s illegal to use a gas appliance you suspect is unsafe. If it’s your boiler, we can come out, find the fault and quote to put it right. A repair visit is £120 including VAT, before any parts.
Gas tightness test
Carbon monoxide
You can’t smell it, so know the signs.
A gas leak and carbon monoxide aren’t the same thing. Carbon monoxide comes from appliances that aren’t burning properly, and it has no smell at all.
Symptoms
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Feeling sick
- Breathlessness
- Tiredness and confusion
Signs on your appliances
- A floppy yellow or orange flame instead of a crisp blue one
- Dark, sooty staining on or around the appliance
- More condensation than usual on windows
If you suspect carbon monoxide, switch the appliance off, open windows, get out and call 0800 111 999. Get medical advice and tell them you may have been exposed. Our carbon monoxide alarm guide covers the alarms every Scottish home needs.
Flue gas test
Who to call
- You smell gas0800 111 999
Free, 24 hours a day.
- Bottled or tank LPGYour supplier
Use the number on the tank or meter.
- Appliance capped offBook a repair visit
£120 including VAT, before any parts.
- Want everything checkedGas safety check
Every gas appliance, in writing.
Common questions
What number do I call if I smell gas in Scotland?
The National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. It’s free and open 24 hours a day. In Scotland, the engineers who come out are from SGN.
Does it cost anything to call the gas emergency service?
No. The call is free, and the emergency service makes the situation safe. Any repair to your own appliances is done by a Gas Safe registered engineer and is charged separately.
Where is the gas emergency control valve?
On the pipe next to your gas meter. Turn the handle a quarter turn so it’s across the pipe to switch the gas off. If the meter is in a cellar or basement, don’t go down to it.
Can I use my phone if I smell gas?
Yes, to call 0800 111 999, but make the call from outside or well away from the smell, not in the room where you can smell gas. Don’t turn any switches on or off on the way out.
Will SGN fix my boiler?
No. They make the situation safe, which can mean switching off and labelling an appliance. A Gas Safe registered engineer has to repair it before it’s used again.
I have LPG, not mains gas. Who do I call?
Use the emergency number on your LPG tank or meter, not 0800 111 999.
Related pages
Sources: Gas Safe Register, what to do in a gas emergency; SGN, smell gas; Gas Safe Register, carbon monoxide; HSE, gas safety FAQs. Checked 2 November 2026.
Not sure what you need? Give us a shout.
Book online in a couple of minutes or give the office a call, Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm. We’ll tell you what we think, and if the answer is to leave things as they are, we’ll say that too.
Worcester Bosch Accredited Installer
Guarantees of up to 12 years on the boilers we fit. Gas Safe registered. Fife Trusted Trader. 400+ customer reviews.