Gas: if you smell gas and there is an immediate danger, leave the area and call 000. For a suspected leak, get outside, don’t create sparks, and ring a licensed gas fitter. Burst pipe: turn the water off at the meter, open a tap to let the pressure out, keep water away from power, then ring a plumber. Craig is on 0499 319 297 for both, 24/7.
If you smell gas
Gas has a strong smell added on purpose so leaks are easy to notice. Don’t ignore it.
Immediate danger. If you smell gas and there is an immediate danger, leave the area and call 000. If gas has caught fire, move to a safe place and call 000.
Suspected leak. Ring Craig on 0499 319 297. Where it is safe to do so, he can isolate the gas supply, find the leak and repair it.
The SA Government’s gas safety advice for a leak inside the house:
- Go outside straight away, opening doors and windows and putting out any open flames as you go.
- Don’t switch lights or appliances on or off, and don’t plug in or unplug anything.
- Don’t use a phone or a torch inside. Call from outside, or ask a neighbour.
- Don’t use a fan to air the place out, and never look for a leak with a flame.
- Don’t smoke or light matches near the property.
- Don’t go back in until a gas fitter has checked the house and told you it is safe.
Their page has the full official checklist and is worth reading before you ever need it.
Gas leak in the street or at the meter
On natural gas, Australian Gas Networks looks after the street mains, the pipe from the main to your meter, and the meter itself. Leaks there go to their 24 hour line, 1800 427 532 (1800 GAS LEAK). Anything after the meter (the pipework to your appliances, the appliances, and their flues) is the owner’s side, and by law it has to be worked on by a licensed gas fitter.
Signs of a gas leak you might not smell
Leaks in underground pipes don’t always give off a constant smell. The SA Government lists two other giveaways:
- Bubbles on the surface of puddles.
- Patches of dead grass or plants along the line of a gas pipe.
Lots of rural Barossa homes run on bottled LPG instead of natural gas. The same rule applies: gas work after the supply point is a job for a licensed gas fitter. Craig works on both natural gas and LPG, and his licence is PGE341299. More on our gas fitting page.
Suspected gas leak or burst pipe? Ring Craig on 0499 319 297.
If a pipe bursts
- Turn the water off at the meter. On SA Water mains the meter is usually near the front boundary. Turn the tap on the meter clockwise until it stops.
- Open a tap inside to let the pressure out of the pipes.
- Keep water away from power. Keep everyone clear, and switch the power off at the switchboard if you can reach it safely.
- Leaking hot water unit? Close the valve on the cold water pipe going into it.
- Ring a plumber. Craig will talk you through making things safe while he is on the way.
On a property that runs on tank water, there is no SA Water meter. Switching the pump off stops it pushing water out of the break.
Whose leak is it?
SA Water looks after leaks between the water main and your meter, and the meter itself. You can report those on their 24/7 faults line, 1300 729 283. Leaks after the meter, on your property and in your plumbing, are yours to fix with a licensed plumber.
Hidden leaks
Not every leak bursts. SA Water’s signs to watch for: damp or unusually green patches in the yard, wet paths, warped or discoloured walls and floors, and drips under the hot water system or dishwasher. To test, read your water meter, use no water for an hour or two, and read it again. If the number moved, there’s probably a leak. If your bill went up because of a leak, SA Water has a leakage allowance you may be able to apply for.
After it’s safe
- Take photos of the damage before you clean up, for your insurer.
- Keep the damaged section of pipe if the plumber removes it.
- Ask for a Certificate of Compliance for gas work where one applies.
We’re based in Williamstown and work right across the Barossa Valley, Gawler and surrounds, including Williamstown, Gawler and Angaston. Ring Craig on 0499 319 297, call Hayley in the office on (08) 8472 9507, or send us the details.
Sources
- SA.GOV.AU: Report a gas leak
- SA Water: Finding leaks on your property
- SA Water: Faulty, damaged or leaking meter
Rules and schemes change. These sources were checked on 9 October 2026. Licence: LIC PGE341299.
