Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not be able to decide if this is a gas leak?

31 replies

RevoltingPeasant · 11/06/2013 21:48

Okay, so I have a really poor sense of smell.

We have recently moved house and there is a smell a bit like gas in the under the sink cupboard. I'm not 100% sure it is, though. It is noticeable but not super strong.

I have tried taking apart the plumbing under the sink to see if perhaps there was something trapped in the drain pipe from the last owners - but it's clear as far as I can see.

The smell is noticeable when you open the cupboard doors but dissipates after a bit if they're left open. The gas cooker is the other side of the kitchen.

Is there anything it could be besides a leak? Would it be wasting emergency services time to ring the gas emergency line?

OP posts:
apostropheuse · 11/06/2013 21:52

If there is a gas pipe running under or in the cupboard and you even suspect a gas lead do not hesitate to contact the emergency gas number for your area.

I had a sense of the smell of gas in the garden - in the box where the gas meter is kept. I phoned up and they were out within the hour. It transpired I did have a leak and needed a new part for the valve.

You will probably be told not to turn lights on or off and to open your doors and windows. Obviously don't light anything.

Seriously, phone them. Better safe than sorry.

KittensoftPuppydog · 11/06/2013 21:52

Phone the number for gas leaks NOW. NOW.

apostropheuse · 11/06/2013 21:53

Oh and I was like you - unsure if it was me imagining things!

SuperiorCat · 11/06/2013 21:55

Don't take any risks with gas, call the emergency number - they will come out.

EllaFitzgerald · 11/06/2013 21:58

Another one for calling the emergency gas helpline. They come out ever so quickly and make it very clear that they'd rather deal with a false alarm than the consequences of a leak. Get the windows open as well.

Original poster
RevoltingPeasant · 11/06/2013 21:58

Thanks - I'm not panicking as it's been like this for a week or so now. I don't know if there is a gas pipe running behind the cupboard - as well as the drainage for the sink there is a grey plastic pipe with an 'accordion' type surface. Is that a gas pipe? Blush I know I should know...

DH reckons we'd be feeling poorly if it were a leak after this amount of time.

OP posts:
C999875 · 11/06/2013 21:58

Don't take any chances with gas leak. Better safe than sorry. Please call them straight away.
If you your anyone else smokes in the house, don't light a cigarette.
Open all windows and doors
Don't switch any electrics on or off
Hope everything's okay. xx

WilsonFrickett · 11/06/2013 22:02

Gas leaks don't make you feel poorly, that's carbon monoxide which comes from faulty gas appliances. A strong smell of gas very definitely needs investigating and quickly. Seriously, call the gas emergency number. Open windows and doors meantime. Do not smoke.

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 11/06/2013 22:02

I'd rule out a gas leak first.

I do know from personal experience that a decaying mouse can smell like a gas leak. We had that gas smell once which baffled me as the village I live in has no gas supply, turned out to be a rotten mouse.

Justforlaughs · 11/06/2013 22:03

Well, lighting a cigarette would certainly decide the issue! Grin I don't advise that though, call the gas board out. They'd far rather be called out for a false alarm than not get called out for a real problem.

squeakytoy · 11/06/2013 22:04

that sounds like the washing machine drain pipe or the dishwasher

Original poster
RevoltingPeasant · 11/06/2013 22:07

Squeaky good point - it's not the WM as I plumbed that in myself and our waste water pipe is white. Decaying mouse entirely possible - given the state previous owners left house in! DH thinks I'm being dramatic...

OP posts:
Mintyy · 11/06/2013 22:08

Damp and mould can smell like a gas leak.

However, call British Gas on the emergency number as soon as you can. They will come out and investigate for you. If the smell hasn't got worse for days then I think you will probably be fine to call them in the morning. Although do leave a window open and the door closed in the affected room!

Original poster
RevoltingPeasant · 11/06/2013 22:14

Sorry meant to say - but we do have a dishwasher there which I wasn't thinking of as we don't use it. It's got mildly stronger over the last few days but think I may take mintyy's advice - thanks!!

DH blatantly thinks i am a massive drama queen but I didn't grow up with gas and am a it wary of it...

OP posts:
ChipsNEggs · 11/06/2013 22:15

Gas is the one thing you never ever under any circumstances mess with! It may be nothing, it may be a small leak into a small area that is able to escape and dissipate, if it is it may get worse vary quickly and boom.

Its not worth the risk, phone the gas board and explain it to them. They can decide if they think it's worth a visit or not.

Your DH is wrong about feeling poorly. The domestic gas supply has not been poisonous for some time. Its carbon monoxide which is the silent killer and has no smell.

Just as an aside anyone with solid fuel appliances remember they release carbon monoxide too. I've surprised a lot of people with that as people assume its gas only. Luckily my chimney sweep is hot on it and terrified me into getting audible alarms in all rooms off the chimney.

housework · 11/06/2013 22:16

DPS mum has her gas meter in the entrance to her house between her 2 front doors. Since she's had her gas meter fixed its absolutely stunk of gas especially when doors have been closed all, day. Gas board have come out and said its nothing. A friend down the the road who's a gas engineer also says its nothing. How can it be nothing when the smell is where the meter is and the smell is
so strong?

apostropheuse · 11/06/2013 22:22

Revolting, my gas pipes are copper, but I believe you can also get plastic pipes.

I really wouldn't risk the possibility of a leak being ignored. If this is a leak it could be getting worse.

I'm embarrassed to say with my leak I had left it for two-three bloody weeks because I wasn't sure what I was smelling. As I said, it was in the garden, in the meter box on the wall just beside my front door.

The engineer said I should have phoned earlier as they would rather be called out to a false alarm than there be a terrible incident.

I was shaking when they left at the thought of what could have happened.

BonnieBlueButler · 11/06/2013 22:27

We called the emergency gas number Monday night as I thought I noticed a smell of gas when I went to read the metre in the outside metre box. I wasn't sure and husband couldn't smell it at all. However, rather than chance it, I called them. The man was here within 20 mins (this was 10.30 at night). There was a leak and it was all sorted within the hour. He was lovely and said they would much rather people call if they are at all suspicious there may be a gas leak.

HeavenlyYoni · 11/06/2013 22:31

I've called out the gas men quite a few times. A few were leaks, and another two times it was the waste gas coming back into the house, causing a smell. Better to be safe than sorry.

SquirtedPerfumeUpNoseInBoots · 11/06/2013 22:34

If you don't use the dishwasher could it be that causing the problem smell? Remove and clean out the filter (inside on the bottom under the bottom tray- it screws out, wash it under a running tap) reinsert and run the machine empty on its hottest wash either with or without a tablet. Don't put washing up liquid in it! The hottest wash can be the symbol for saucepans.

Agree to getting gas people out though. I could smell gas outside once, and they came really quickly. Turned out I could smell someone else's leak from 2 streets away because of the way the wind was blowing.

FatherHankTree · 11/06/2013 23:12

Call these people Gas
to be on the safe side. I've had to call them out twice and they're really helpful.

Punkatheart · 11/06/2013 23:28

My BIL is a gas engineer. But a smell of gas that is not (once that has been established by an expert) may be an animal rotting. The smell is exactly the same and my BIL is called out a huge number of times for decomposing rats/mice under the floorboards.

cozietoesie · 11/06/2013 23:39

I've had a couple of decaying mice, once - but don't hesitate. Report it as a possible leak and they'll check it out.

onedev · 12/06/2013 00:04

Please say you've called this in - better safe than sorry. 0800 111 999.

lurkedtoolong · 12/06/2013 03:26

Call British Gas. We moved into a new house and I was convinced I could smell gas and even though no one else could and thought I was nuts I called the emergency number. When engineer came the leak barely registered on his equipment but it was there and would only have got worse if ignored. Call them now.