5 Signs You Need a Gas Safety Inspection

Gas leaks don’t announce themselves with flashing lights or alarm bells. They silently infiltrate your home or business, posing serious risks to your health, safety, and property. For Auckland residents and business owners, recognising the signs of a gas leak can be the difference between peace of mind and potential disaster. 

At Blueline Plumbing, our North Shore gas fitters have seen firsthand how quickly gas issues can escalate when left unchecked. Keep reading to explore the five critical signs that indicate it’s time to call in the experts for a gas safety inspection to keep your family, employees, or customers safe.

1. The Telltale Smell 

Often described as rotten eggs or sulphur, noticing a distinctive and unpleasant odour is your first and most obvious indicator of a gas leak. Although natural gas is naturally odourless, gas companies deliberately add this pungent smell (mercaptan) so leaks can be detected quickly. If you notice even the faintest whiff of this smell, don’t wait to see if it dissipates, as even mild gas odours warrant immediate attention.

2. Physical Symptoms That Shouldn’t be Ignored

Physical signs of gas leaks can negatively affect your health before you even realise it’s happening. If you or others in your home or business are experiencing unexplained headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, or breathing difficulties, don’t simply blame it on a common illness or everyday stress. These symptoms often occur because gas leaking in a house can reduce oxygen levels and introduce harmful compounds into your breathing air.

Pay special attention to whether symptoms improve when you leave the building but return when you’re back inside, and watch for multiple people developing similar symptoms simultaneously. This pattern strongly suggests an environmental cause like a gas leak.

3. Unusual Behaviour from Your Gas Appliances

Your gas appliances often provide clear visual cues when something isn’t right. The most telling sign is the colour of your flames, which should burn with a strong and crisp blue. If you notice yellow or orange flames instead of blue ones on your cooker, heater, or boiler, this indicates incomplete combustion and could signal a serious problem with your gas supply or the appliance itself. 

Other signs of gas leaking in the house also include:

• Pilot lights that frequently blow out or are difficult to light
• Sooty black marks or stains around gas appliances
• Excessive condensation on windows or walls near gas equipment
• Appliances that suddenly become noisy or start making unusual sounds
• Inconsistent heating or irregular performance

4. Rising Gas Bills without Explanation

When your gas consumption suddenly increases despite no change in your usage patterns, it could be your wallet alerting you to a potential leak. A good rule of thumb is to investigate any unexplained increase of 10% or more compared to similar periods in previous years, as even small and undetectable leaks can lead to significant increases. 

5. It’s Been Too Long Since Your Last Gas Safety Check

Even without obvious signs of trouble, the simple passage of time can be reason enough to schedule a gas safety inspection. Gas appliances and connections naturally deteriorate over time, causing seals to age and connections to loosen. Our clients who maintain regular inspection schedules rarely experience emergencies, while those who wait often face more extensive and expensive repairs. 

We recommend annual gas safety checks as a best practice in residential properties. Commercial buildings with specified systems like gas installations are required to have a compliance schedule and provide an annual building warrant of fitness that confirms the systems are being maintained and operating efficiently. If you’re struggling to remember when your system was last professionally examined, that’s a clear indication that a check is overdue.

Who to Call If You Suspect a Gas Leak

Take immediate action if you suspect a gas leak in your home or business. First, turn off your gas supply if it’s safe to do so. Then, open windows and doors to ventilate the space and evacuate everyone from the building.

Avoid using electrical switches, mobile phones, or even doorbells that might create sparks. Once you’re at a safe distance, you might wonder who to call if you suspect a gas leak. In Auckland, Blueline Plumbing’s emergency gas response team is available 24/7 to address urgent situations. 

Unlike general maintenance companies, our certified team focuses exclusively on gas and plumbing services, giving us the specialised expertise that complex gas systems require. Our expert team will arrive equipped with specialised detection equipment to accurately locate and address leaks promptly, ensuring your entire system is secure.

If you’ve noticed any of the five warning signs we’ve discussed, contact Blueline Plumbing’s emergency number at 022 064 4336. Alternatively, if you wish to schedule a preemptive, comprehensive gas safety inspection, fill out a contact form, and our team will contact you shortly.

Don’t leave your family’s safety or your business operations to chance. Work with Blueline and protect what matters most today.