Gas emergency
Plain English. Practical detail. UK context.
A suspected gas escape needs prompt emergency action, not routine fault diagnosis. Leave danger and call from a safe place: in Great Britain, 0800 111 999 is the gas emergency number; Northern Ireland uses 0800 002 001. Call 999 where there is immediate danger or serious illness. Do not investigate a leak yourself.
Safety: gas work must only be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer who is qualified for that type of appliance. Check their ID card or the Gas Safe Register. If you smell gas, leave the property and call the gas emergency number: 0800 111 999 in Great Britain or 0800 002 001 in Northern Ireland.
Last reviewed: (editorial review against the public sources listed below).
Avoid making the situation worse
HSE advises against smoking, naked flames and operating electrical switches where a gas escape is suspected. Ventilate and shut off the supply at the meter only where this can be done safely; do not delay leaving or put yourself at risk to reach equipment. Use a phone from a safe place outside. Follow the emergency service's instructions. Homeowners should not try to locate a leak with a flame, dismantle an appliance or repeatedly relight it. Trainees must stop and escalate rather than treat an urgent concern as an opportunity to practise diagnosis.
Carbon monoxide can present without a gas smell
CO is colourless and odourless and can arise from several fuels, not only natural gas. The NHS advises going outside and obtaining medical advice when poisoning is suspected, with 999 for specified serious symptoms. Do not re-enter until advised. An alarm or symptoms deserve appropriate response even if a recent certificate exists. A household should not wait for an annual service appointment or a replacement battery to decide whether exposure is possible. This reference gives no home testing procedure, safe waiting period or reassurance based on symptom improvement alone.
Emergency attendance and permanent repair differ
The emergency response may make a situation safe, but further competent work can still be needed before normal use resumes. Follow the actual instructions and any restrictions. Relevant gas repair needs appropriate Gas Safe business registration and engineer categories, not simply a general plumbing qualification. LPG and other fuel arrangements can require different emergency contacts and specialist scope. Trainees should not restore a supply, reconnect or adjust equipment outside their authorised supervised role. A temporary safe condition is not automatically a completed repair or permission to restart the appliance.
After the immediate risk is addressed
Keep relevant emergency information, reports and subsequent repair or check records. Agree what defect was found, what was repaired and what evidence is supplied. Landlords and contractors may have further duties, including relevant reporting, but those do not replace immediate protection of people. Prices and outcomes vary from job to job, so compare written, itemised quotations rather than relying on a typical figure. Homeowners should use the correct location-specific service rather than assume one number covers every fuel worldwide. Tradespeople should explain restrictions clearly and not minimise them because the household needs heat. If danger or symptoms recur, respond to the new situation rather than rely on an earlier visit or a previous reassuring result.
Frequently asked questions
Is Northern Ireland’s gas emergency number the same as Great Britain’s?
No. The cited NI guidance gives 0800 002 001; Great Britain uses 0800 111 999.
Does an emergency visit always complete every repair?
No. Follow restrictions and arrange any required competent follow-up before reuse.
Sources and further reading
Public sources and further reading. Sources checked: 8 November 2026. Consult the original for details and later changes.