Last updated on January 24th, 2024
The smell of gas from a boiler is definitely not normal, and you should be acting on it instantly.
You must turn the boiler off and turn the gas off at the gas meter emergency control valve (ECV) and ventilate the room as much as possible.
Do not use any naked flames and call the National Gas Emergency Service and your local gas engineer as soon as possible.
The smell of gas from a boiler should be fine if dealt with straight away, but it could turn into an emergency situation if left.
I have been a full-time gas engineer for over a decade. Here I’ll give you some gas leak smell advice based on my experiences over the years.
Who to Call When You Smell Gas
When you smell gas inside or outside of your house you should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
You should also turn off the gas at the gas meter if you can, and call your local Gas Safe registered engineer to book an appointment ASAP.
The gas emergency service will only turn your gas off and tell you to call a local gas engineer.
The gas board are only responsible for the gas supply outside the house and up to the gas meter.
A gas engineer will need to come in to find and fix the leak in the house on any gas appliances or pipework.
Smell Gas Near Meter
If you can smell gas near the gas meter then you should turn off the gas, and call the National Gas Emergency Service.
The gas meter might need to be replaced or the regulator or even the emergency control valve, in which case it will be done for free as it is the gas supplier’s responsibility up to the outlet of the gas meter.
Gas Smell From Boiler Flue
Boiler flues blow out used flue gases including carbon monoxide which is odourless, but there can be a slight smell. There shouldn’t be any gas smell coming from a boiler flue and most of the time that smell is not gas.
If you’re sure it’s gas, then a gas smell from a boiler flue could be caused by a faulty gas valve or a gas leak in your boiler.
If you do suspect a gas smell from your boiler flue then get checked out by a local gas engineer.
Burning Smell From Boiler
A burning smell from a boiler often means there is a problem with your boiler that needs to be checked out.
The burning smell will be coming from either a burning part in the boiler that could potentially be dangerous or cause your boiler to break down.
You should get this looked at as soon as possible by a local gas engineer to find and fix or replace any parts causing the burning smell.
Summary
The smell of gas from a boiler or anywhere else inside your house is a serious situation that should be dealt with as soon as possible.
A gas smell outside of the house will also need to be dealt with quickly but if it’s leaking gas outside then it’s possibly not as serious.
You should turn the gas off and call a gas engineer to look into it or call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 if you are really worried.
Here are some gas-related posts you might find helpful:
- Baxi E133 fault code gas supply issue
- Vaillant F54 fault code insufficient gas
- Vaillant F28 fault code no gas
Feel free to ask me any questions in the comment section below and I’ll try my best to help.
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FAQs
How do you know if your boiler is leaking gas?
One way to know if your boiler is leaking gas is the smell of gas. Another way to know if your boiler is leaking a lot of gas could be by hearing it escaping.
You can buy some leak detection fluid to squirt on the suspected gas leak to see if it bubbles, but the best way to know if your boiler is leaking gas is to call a gas engineer ASAP!
Do boilers give off a smell?
No, boilers do not give off a smell. If you have a smell coming from your boiler you should probably get it checked out by a local gas engineer.
Should I turn boiler off if I smell gas?
Yes, you should always turn the boiler off if you smell gas and you should also turn the gas off at the gas meter emergency control valve (ECV).
After turning off the boiler and gas, you should call your local gas engineer to come and see what the problem is as soon as possible.
Can a boiler produce carbon monoxide when switched off?
No, a boiler can not produce carbon monoxide when switched off. All gas appliances, including boilers, produce carbon monoxide when the appliance is being used and burning gas. When you have a carbon monoxide detector beeping it could mean carbon monoxide is leaking into the property.
