7 Signs Your Gas Installation Needs an Urgent Inspection (and What to Do Next)

08 Apr 2026 Posted By admin

Gas is what powers cooking and heating across the households of South Africa. It is also the source of reliable power among the multiple incidents of load shedding that occur especially during peak seasons.

Poorly installed connections can not only be hazardous but deadly, due to leaks, fires, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Regulations demand that households obtain a Gas Certificate of Conformity (CoC) from registered service providers.

Here, we list seven signs that you need to watch out for as an indication for booking an inspection.

Sign 1: A Lingering Rotten Egg Smell

LPG is odourless. However, the addition of mercaptans (a sulphur-based compound) gives gas a distinctive rotten egg smell. If you have a lingering smell of sulphur at home, you might have a gas leak.

Open your windows and shut the valve. Do not turn on any switches. Do not light a flame. Do not use any electronics, since LPG is highly combustible and even a single spark can cause a fire.

Evacuate the premises and let the natural ventilation from the windows dissipate the gas. In the meantime, call experts to handle the leak.

Sign 2: Yellow or Lazy Flames

Blue flames are the sign of a clean burning stove. If the flames seem yellow, sooty, or seem like they are lifting off the burner, there is probably a blockage or a wrong mix. This can lead to carbon monoxide (CO) formation.

CO is colourless, odourless, heavier than air, and binds more strongly to the haemoglobin in our blood than carbon dioxide or oxygen. The result is CO poisoning, which is often fatal.

Test periodically for CO leaks and make sure that your home has adequate venting.

Sign 3: Hissing or Whooshing Noises

If you have a leak in the gas piping, valves, or other fittings, you can often hear gas escaping with a hissing noise. Tightening the joints or closing the leak with a quick fix can actually increase the leak.

Turn off the gas valve immediately and call experts.

Sign 4: Black Soot on Walls and Appliances

Sooty streaks on the sides of your cookware, household appliances, and/or your walls are signs of incomplete combustion. Soot is a sign of poor airflow for your gas appliance as well as your home. It is also a sign that incomplete combustion is taking place which means you are wasting fuel.

Consult experts and not only get your vents checked but also your gas piping and burners.

Sign 5: Experiencing Nausea or Headaches When Indoors

Feeling fatigued, dizzy, or nauseated whenever you are at home? CO poisoning often presents itself like flu without the fever.

To continuously monitor indoor CO levels, you can install carbon monoxide detectors. However, to actually get the CO leak fixed, call experts.

Sign 6: Dead Houseplants Near Your Gas Lines

Did you know that our dead or dying houseplant can be a sign of a gas leak gone undetected? Gas tends to seep into the soil which slowly kills houseplants. This is often the result of poor maintenance.

Check for buried or concealed gas lines. Calling professionals is the smarter course of action since they are trained to handle gas leaks.

Sign 7: Expired or Missing CoC

An expired or missing CoC is a hazard in itself. It shows that you are not aware of the conditions of the gas lines in your house or are too negligent to have them checked.

Banks and insurers need CoC as proof and documentation. Sellers need it for legally transferring the deed.

Get your CoC done by an SAQCC certified gas installer to stay safe.

Quick Leak Test for SA Homes: Staying Safe from Gas Leaks

Did you know that there is a quick test which can help you check if any of the gas lines are leaking? All you have to do is spot the soap bubble.

Here’s how you can check for gas leaks at home:

1. Mix some dish soap and water in a spray bottle.
2. While the gas is flowing through the line, spray the soap water on all the joints.
3. If you see any new bubbles forming, that’s the source of your gas leak.
4. Shut off your supply valve and call certified technicians to fix your gas leak.

This is a test that every household needs to conduct periodically, if not monthly. And whenever you detect leaks, call certified technicians, instead of trying out DIY fixes.

Your Gas Safety Checklist Table: At a Glance

Gas leaks are not as uncommon as you might think. Thus, this safety checklist should always be at the forefront of your mind.

Table: Things to check to detect a gas leak.

Wrapping Up

Ignoring the signs of a gas leak can increase the risk of a house fire or explosion. It can also endanger your family. Always keep an eye out for potential leaks. For safety, get regular inspections and your CoC done.