Gas Emergencies

A gas emergency is one of the worst things that can happen within our industry, and with the recent increase in incidents, we have put together some information that can help you in an emergency.

What to do in a gas emergency

The first thing to do in a gas emergency is to call the emergency gas services. They will send an engineer to your property to assess the situation.


Before an engineer gets to your property you should open as many windows and doors as possible.


Then everyone needs to leave the property until the engineer arrives.


If you are confident and able to, you should use the isolation valve on the gas meter to stop the flow of gas. However, you should not re-enter the property if the gas meter is inside.

Knowing your gas type

Knowing what type of gas feeds your home is very important, as it can ensure a properly qualified engineer is sent to your property, and can help in the trace and repair process.

Natural Gas (Mains Supply)

This is the most common type in the UK, and the easiest way to know if your property uses natural gas, is to look for a gas meter. A G4 meter is the standard for domestic properties and regulates the pressure from the gas mains into the property.

Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG)

LPG is the second most common type in the UK, around 200,000 properties use LPG, mainly in rural areas or caravan/holiday parks who do not have access to a mains supply. LPG is sometimes referred to as "Calor Gas" as they are one of the leading suppliers of LPG bottles.


LPG comes in pressurized bottles ranging from 6kg to 47kg, and are normally red. If you live on a site such as a holiday park, your property may be fed from a larger storage tank. LPG bottles use a 2- or 4-way regulator instead of a meter. These come with automatic change-over, meaning if one bottle runs out, it switches to a full bottle.


LPG is more difficult to deal with as it is denser and more combustible than natural gas, because of this an additional qualification is required before engineers can work on LPG installations.

Other Fuel Types

We only work on natural gas, LPG and some electrical installations. Please contact us if you are on a different fuel type and we may be able to provide alternative contacts.

Moving into a new property

When you move into a new property there are a few things you should familiarize yourself with. You should know the location of, and how to use:

  • Gas Meter (for the isolation valve)
  • Internal Water Stop Cock
  • External Water Stock Cock
  • Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms
  • Smoke/Fire Alarms


It is important that every property has a Carbon Monoxide alarm in each room with a gas appliance.


Some installations also incorporate a gas detector. These automatically shut off the supply if a leak is detected. Cadent offer a type of isolation valve that turns the traditional lever valve into an emergency push button.