Gas leaks in Blackheath
Blackheath is in the upper Mountains, higher and colder than the lower Mountains. For many households, the gas heater is on from the first cold morning to the end of spring.
What is different about Blackheath
With so much heater use, flues and burners get a lot of work. Blocked flues are a risk when houses are closed up tight. Carbon monoxide has no smell, so a service matters more than your nose can tell you. If anyone feels unwell near a running heater, get outside and call 000. See the gas heater service page.
Gas supply is mixed. Parts of the town have mains gas, while other homes use LPG bottles. Bottles outside can take a beating from frost. Hoses can crack and regulators can freeze.
Many homes are older cottages, plus guesthouses and holiday places. Some are much older than their gas fittings, which may have been added and altered over the years. Worn joints can weep gas slowly. A gas smell that comes and goes is worth taking seriously.
If you host guests in a cottage, have the gas appliances checked before the busy weeks. See rental gas safety checks.
What to do if you smell gas
Strong smell, hissing or anyone unwell: leave and call 000 from outside. Leak at the street or meter: Jemena, 131 909. Leak at an LPG bottle: close the valve clockwise if it is safe, then call your supplier. Leak in your pipes or appliances: call a licensed gasfitter.
The repair
A licensed gasfitter tests the pipework, finds the leak, fixes it and tests again. Ask for the compliance certificate where it applies. Ask for a quote before work starts.
More help: gas leak detection, smell gas, what to do, gas heater service, LPG bottle leaks. See all towns covered.
Common questions
Why are heater checks more important in Blackheath?
Heaters run for months in the cold, so wear and blocked flues are more likely.
Does frost damage LPG hoses and regulators?
It can make hoses stiff and cracked. Have them looked at before winter.
Is Blackheath on mains gas?
Parts of it are. Other homes use LPG. Check your bill.
Gas leak or gas appliance problem? Call a licensed gasfitter.