Smell gas at home? What to do, step by step
⏱ 2 min read
Gas smell in your home or stairwell. Below: what to do right away, what next, when to call 112 and what to avoid. The same instructions are in the free SurvivalZone.app and work without internet.
First, right now
- Do not switch lights or appliances on or off, do not use the doorbell, a lighter or matches. Any spark can cause an explosion.
- Turn off the gas at the meter valve or at the cooker and open windows and doors wide.
- Leave the building with everyone at home and warn neighbours by knocking, not ringing. Only once outside, call the gas emergency number (UK 0800 111 999, Poland 992) or 112.
Then
- Do not go back in until the gas emergency service says it is safe.
- If the smell is in the stairwell or basement, do not go there. Leave the building and call from outside.
- If someone feels unwell, with a headache, dizziness or drowsiness, get them into fresh air and call 112.
- Natural gas is given its smell so you can notice it. Report even a faint smell.
When to call 112
You hear gas hissing, the smell is very strong, there has been an explosion or fire, or someone has collapsed. Call from a safe distance.
What not to do
- Do not call from inside a home that smells of gas. Call from outside.
- Do not look for the leak with a flame and do not repair anything yourself.
- Do not use the lift.
See also
Frequently asked questions
What number do I call if I smell gas?
Your national gas emergency number: in the UK 0800 111 999, in Poland 992. If lives are at risk, call 112.
Can I call from inside if I smell gas?
No. A phone can cause a spark. Get outside first, then call.
What is the difference between gas and carbon monoxide?
Natural gas has a strong smell and can explode. Carbon monoxide has no smell and poisons you. Only a CO alarm can warn you.
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Other scenarios
- ⚡ Power cut
- 🥶 Cold, no heating
- 🚱 No water or unsafe tap water
- 🌊 Flood, water coming in
- 🎒 Evacuation in 10 minutes
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- 🌡️ Heatwave
- ⛈️ Storm, strong wind
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- 📵 No signal, no internet
- ❤️ Someone is unconscious
- 🌍 Earthquake
- ⛵ Storm at sea, no internet
- 🚗 Road accident
- ☠️ Carbon monoxide or gas leak
- ❄️ Stuck in a car in a snowstorm
- 🌩️ Thunderstorm outdoors
- 🫀 Heart attack or stroke
- 🏊 Someone is drowning
- 🌲 Forest or grass fire
- 💳 Cards and cash machines not working
- 🦠 Epidemic, pandemic, dangerous disease
- 🧒 A child is missing
- 🫁 Choking
- 🩸 Severe bleeding
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- 😷 Smog and poor air quality
- 🐻 Bear on the trail
- 🐗 Wild boar encounter
- 🏢 Fire at work: evacuation
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- ☣️ Chemical incident
- 🏠 Quarantine at home
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- 💣 Bomb threat, suspicious item, explosion
- 💰 Robbery: shop, bank, street
- 💚 Suicidal thoughts: how to help yourself or someone else
- 🌲 Lost in the forest: how to survive
Sources
- Polish Gas Distribution (PSG): what to do when gas leaks (Polish)
- Lehrte Fire Brigade: what to do in a gas leak (German)
- Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea: what to do in a gas emergency
- Polish State Fire Service
Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-11-04.
General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.