Gas Leak Repairs Wellington

A gas leak is one of the few plumbing problems where minutes really matter. Natural gas and LPG both have an odour added so that a leak can be smelt, and if you can smell it, there is enough gas present to take seriously.

We respond to gas leaks 24/7 across Wellington City, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and the Kāpiti Coast. We make the area safe, find the leak with proper test equipment, repair or replace the faulty pipe, fitting or appliance part, pressure test the installation and certify the work before the gas goes back on.

Pricing: quotes are free, and every job gets a fixed price before we start, so there are no surprises on the invoice.

Gas Leak Repairs Jobs We Handle Across Wellington

• Gas leak repair
• Smell of gas
• Gas leak detection
• Regulator replacement
• Pipe joint leaks
• Appliance gas leaks

What to do if you smell gas

Do these things in this order, and do not wait to see if the smell goes away:

• Do not switch lights or appliances on or off, and do not use a lighter or matches
• Turn off the gas at the meter or the LPG bottles if you can do it safely
• Open doors and windows on your way out
• Get everyone, including pets, outside and away from the building
• Call us from outside, and call 111 if the smell is strong or there is any fire
• Do not go back in until a gasfitter says it is safe

Signs of a gas leak

The rotten egg smell is the main sign, but not the only one. Listen for hissing near pipes, the meter or appliances. Watch for burners with lazy yellow flames instead of crisp blue ones, pilot lights that keep going out, a gas bill that has jumped for no reason, or LPG bottles emptying much faster than usual. Dead patches of grass along an outdoor gas line can point to a buried leak. Headaches, dizziness or nausea that ease when you leave the house can be a sign of carbon monoxide from a faulty appliance, and need the same urgent response.

How It Works

How we find and fix the leak

We isolate the supply and pressure test the installation to confirm there is a leak and how big it is. Then we narrow it down section by section, using electronic gas detectors and leak detection fluid on joints, valves, regulators and appliance connections. Common culprits are old threaded joints, corroded steel pipe, perished flexible hoses, damaged regulators and worn appliance valves.

Once we find it, we repair or replace the faulty section, retest the whole installation, relight and check every appliance, and issue the gas certification. If an appliance is unsafe and cannot be fixed on the spot, we disconnect it, explain why in writing and can quote for gas appliance repairs or a replacement.

Natural gas or LPG: it depends where you live

Powerco owns the natural gas network that runs through Wellington, the Hutt Valley and Porirua, so many homes from Karori to Lower Hutt are on piped natural gas. Powerco's network does not list the Kāpiti Coast, so homes in Paraparaumu, Waikanae and Ōtaki that use gas are usually on LPG bottles. If you are unsure, the meter or the bottles by the house tell you which you have.

The difference changes where we look first. Natural gas is lighter than air and tends to rise, while LPG is heavier and collects at low points, such as under a suspended timber floor. Many older Wellington homes sit on piles with a crawl space beneath, and gas pipe often runs through it, so an LPG leak there can pool out of sight. Leaks on your side of the meter or regulator are the owner's to fix. If the leak is at or before the meter, the gas network needs to know, and we can help you work out which it is.

Earthquakes and gas

The Wellington region has about 50 active faults, and a strong shake can strain rigid gas pipe, crack old threaded joints or pull an appliance connection loose. After a big quake, if you smell gas, follow the steps above and turn the supply off at the meter or bottles if it is safe to do so. Do not turn it back on yourself. A gasfitter should test the installation first.

Prevention helps too. Flexible connectors on cooktops and heaters, LPG bottles chained to the wall, and corroded old steel pipe replaced before it lets go all reduce the risk. Where old pipe has corroded along its length, new gas fitting is usually the lasting fix rather than patching joint after joint.

Cost and call-outs

We run a 24/7 emergency service for gas leaks, and a real person answers the phone. The cost depends on the time of day, how long it takes to locate the leak and the parts needed. We give you the price for the repair once the leak is found and before we carry out the fix, unless an immediate repair is the only way to make the site safe.

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• After an Earthquake: Checking Your Pipes, Drains and Gas in Wellington

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