Riverstone · Sydney Wide · Hawkesbury · Penrith
info@fenechplumbing.com.au
Emergency Plumbing 24/7 — 0422 718 247
"I can smell gas." It's one of the calls we treat most seriously, and it's in our name for a reason: Fenech Plumbing & Gas is a licensed gas fitting company as well as a plumbing one. We find and repair gas leaks, install and service LPG and natural gas appliances, and leak-test every job before we leave, for homes across Sydney Metro, the Hills, the Hawkesbury and the Nepean, 24/7/365.
"First thing, work out where you can actually smell it, like the cooktop or somewhere else. If it seems serious, turn the gas off straight away at the meter or the bottle to isolate it completely, and don't use any lighters or anything that could cause a spark. Open your windows and doors and air the place out if you're inside."
Peter Fenech, licensed gas fitter
Then call us. We answer 24/7/365, and if you're not sure where the isolation valve is, we'll talk you through finding it.
On the phone we'll ask where the smell is coming from and whether you can hear hissing, so the gas can be off before anyone attends. How loud the hissing is and how fast the dial on the gas meter is spinning tell us a lot about severity: a slow-moving dial usually means a minor leak, a fast-moving one means something more significant.
One thing we'll tell you straight away if it applies: if the problem is at the gas meter itself or the regulator on it, that's the responsibility of Jemena, the NSW gas network operator, and their emergency line is the right call, not a plumber. Everything after the meter is where a licensed gas fitter comes in.
LPG (bottled gas) is heavier than air. When it leaks it pools along the floor, forming invisible pockets that only need an ignition source. Natural gas is lighter than air and dissipates more freely, which makes it somewhat less prone to pooling, but both are a real risk in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces. It's why a "small" leak under a benchtop matters more than it sounds: the cupboard fills, and the oven below it is a ready ignition source.
A homeowner in Marsden Park could smell gas under his natural gas cooktop. The leak was minor, at the connection between the flexible hose and the cooktop, but because it sat underneath the benchtop, gas was pooling in the enclosed cupboard below, directly above the oven: a ready ignition source. We isolated the gas at the valve under the cooktop, removed the faulty fitting, reinstated it with proper thread tape and sealant, reused the same flexible hose, and re-tested with leak spray to confirm it was safe. Before leaving, we showed the client where the isolation valve was, so he could shut the gas off himself and buy safe time if he ever smelled it again.
And a word on DIY: gas fitting work must legally be carried out by a licensed gas fitter in NSW. Beyond the law, we regularly see a small leak made worse by over-tightening or damaging a fitting to the point it can no longer be shut off. If something's leaking, isolate it and call, don't reach for the shifter.
Responsibility splits at the gas meter. Jemena owns the meter and the supply into it; everything after the meter, the internal lines, cooktop, heater and hot water unit, sits with the property owner, alongside their duty of care to keep the property safe. For rentals that makes gas complaints worth acting on quickly and documenting properly. As the licensed gas fitter, Peter's own duty of care means any work he completes is left in safe working order: the last person to work on a line or appliance carries the responsibility for its safety, and we take that seriously. A periodic leak check across a rental portfolio, roughly every two to three years per property, is a small line item next to what it protects against.
Want the full walkthrough for the moment you smell gas? Read our guide: smell gas in your home? Here's exactly what to do.
Tell us what's happening in your own words: "I can smell gas near the cooktop", "the flame looks too big", "we need a new gas point". We'll take it from there.
Isolate it at the meter or bottle if you safely can, then call our 24/7 line: 0422 718 247
First, work out where you can actually smell it, like at the cooktop or somewhere else. If it seems serious, turn the gas off straight away at the meter or the bottle to isolate it completely, and do not use lighters or anything that could cause a spark. Open your windows and doors and air the place out. Then call us on 0422 718 247 and we will talk you through it, including finding the isolation valve if you are not sure where it is.
It splits at the gas meter. The meter itself, the regulator on it and the supply line into it are Jemena's responsibility as the NSW gas network operator, and a leak there means calling their emergency line. Everything after the meter, the internal gas lines, cooktop, heater and hot water unit, is the property owner's side, and that is licensed gas fitter work. If you call us and the problem turns out to be at the meter, we will tell you straight away so you contact the right people.
We start where the smell is strongest and work methodically. A soapy leak-detection spray shows up bubbles at the leak point, even for very small leaks, and finds the issue most of the time. For leaks suspected inside a wall or at hard-to-isolate fittings, we cap off points and run a bubble test or a dial test at the meter, and use a gas-sniffing device to pinpoint the exact location. After the repair, the test at the meter is repeated to confirm the leak is actually fixed before we leave.
A proper gas leak check by a licensed gas fitter roughly every two to three years is a sensible rhythm: a dial test or bubble test across visible and hidden fittings, including the flexible hoses behind appliances. It is also worth making sure isolation valves are fitted under cooktops so gas can be shut off quickly in an emergency, and that any gas work on the property was done legally and correctly in the first place.
In our customers' own words. Read them all or see them on Google.
Peter is great at what he does. He is very dependable and always comes as soon as he can. I’ll be continuing to use Fenech Plumbing & Gas Pty Ltd for any plumbing and gas work in our property.
We had Peter from Fenech Plumbing and Gas do our whole home filtration system and fix our fridge plumbing, and honestly he is the best plumber we have ever met and used. He’s not only highly skilled but also genuinely friendly and easy to deal with. We’ve never met a plumber like him before and from now on we’ll only be using him. Couldn’t recommend Peter and Fenech Plumbing and Gas more!
Had a possible minor leak near my pool equipment and needed a plumber to assess. Peter came by and gave me expert advice and gave me next steps to monitor and measure. Peter is professional and would recommend him to all my friends and family. 10/10!
