• Smell Gas at Home? What to Do About an LPG Cylinder Leak

Smell Gas at Home? What to Do About an LPG Cylinder Leak

Quick answer: if you smell gas, don't switch anything on or off, including lights, fans and plugs. Close the valve on the LPG cylinder, open the doors and windows, get everyone out, and call 999 or your gas supplier from outside. Don't go back in until it's been checked and the smell is completely gone.

How to Tell You Have a Leak

  • The smell: LPG has a strong, unpleasant smell added on purpose, often described as rotten eggs or rotten cabbage, so leaks are easy to notice.
  • A hissing sound near the cylinder, regulator or hose.
  • A stove flame that's weak, yellow or uneven when it's normally blue and steady. That can point to a supply problem worth checking.

LPG is heavier than air, so a leak tends to collect low down, near the floor and in cabinets, rather than drifting away.

What to Do, Step by Step

  1. Don't touch any electrical switch. Turning a light, fan, hood or appliance on or off can create a spark. Leave everything exactly as it is.
  2. No flames of any kind: no lighters, matches, cigarettes, candles, or altar lamps or joss sticks.
  3. Close the gas at the source. Turn off the valve on the cylinder or regulator, or the main valve if you're on piped gas, but only if you can reach it safely.
  4. Open doors and windows to let it disperse. Use natural airflow only: don't switch on a fan or the cooker hood.
  5. Get everyone out: children, older family members and pets first. Wait in an open area, away from the house.
  6. Call from outside. Don't use your phone inside the house. Once you're out, call 999 or your gas supplier.
  7. Don't go back in until professionals have checked it and the smell has completely gone.

If It Has Already Caught Fire

A gas leak that has ignited needs different handling from a normal fire.

  • If you can reach the cylinder valve safely, turn it off. Cutting the fuel is the most effective way to stop a gas fire.
  • Don't try to put out a gas flame while gas is still flowing. If the flame goes out but gas keeps escaping, it can build up and explode. It's safer to leave the flame burning, get out, and call 999.
  • Use your extinguisher on what has caught fire around it, such as a cabinet, curtain or pile of boxes, but only if the fire is small and you have a clear way out behind you. Here's how to use an extinguisher properly.
  • A pan or wok that caught fire on the stove is different. Turn off the gas, then smother it with a fire blanket. Never use water. See our kitchen fire safety guide.

How to Prevent a Leak

  • Check the hose: look for cracks, stiffness, bulges, or a hose that's been chewed, kinked or pinched behind the stove. Replace worn hoses and regulators, following your gas supplier's advice.
  • Do the soapy-water test when you connect a new cylinder: brush soapy water over the regulator and hose joints. Bubbles mean a leak. Never test with a flame.
  • Keep the cylinder upright in a ventilated spot, away from heat, direct sun and electrical sockets. Don't shut it in an airtight cabinet.
  • Close the cylinder valve at night and whenever you leave the house for a long time. It's on our balik kampung fire safety checklist.
  • Buy cylinders from authorised dealers, and refuse one that's dented, rusty or leaking at the valve.

Will a Smoke Detector Warn Me About a Gas Leak?

No. A smoke detector senses smoke, not gas, so it won't go off for an LPG leak. It will warn you if a leak leads to a fire, which is why you still need one near the kitchen. If you want leak warning specifically, that's a separate gas detector. For smoke warning, the FF Smoke Detector PLUS (RM79) is best placed just outside the kitchen, not inside it.

What to Keep in the Kitchen

Every kitchen with a gas stove should have two things within reach, near the exit rather than right beside the stove:

The Dynamic Duo bundles both for RM140. For where exactly to put them, see where to keep a fire extinguisher at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I smell gas at home?

Don't switch anything on or off. Close the cylinder valve if you can reach it safely, open doors and windows, get everyone out, and call 999 or your gas supplier from outside the house.

Can I switch off the lights if I smell gas?

No. Switching a light or appliance on or off can create a spark. Leave all switches exactly as they are.

Should I put out a fire from a leaking gas cylinder?

Only by turning off the valve, if you can reach it safely. Don't put out the flame while gas is still escaping, because unburnt gas can build up and explode. Get out and call 999.

How do I check my LPG hose for leaks?

Brush soapy water over the regulator and hose connections. Bubbles mean gas is escaping. Never use a flame to check for a leak.

Does a smoke detector detect gas leaks?

No. A smoke detector only senses smoke. It will warn you if a leak leads to a fire, but detecting the leak itself needs a separate gas detector.

Fire Fighter Industry is Malaysia's No. 1 Fire Safety Company, established in 1974. Get the Dynamic Duo for your kitchen, or browse our home fire safety bundles.