The Call-Out
The Oakleigh homeowner noticed a faint sulphur smell near their gas meter box on the side of the house. They'd checked it in the morning, dismissed it, then noticed it again in the afternoon. By the time they called us, the smell had been there for several hours — which is exactly the kind of situation that needs immediate attention, not a wait-and-see approach.
We were on site within the hour. Gas leak detection at the meter is one of the most time-sensitive call-outs we respond to — meters are outside but in close proximity to the home, and a slow leak at a fitting can become a serious issue if the gas finds an ignition source or accumulates in an enclosed space nearby.
What We Found
The photo shows the result of a soap test on the meter's outlet fitting — the white foam buildup confirms exactly where the gas was escaping. The fitting connecting the meter body to the downstream gas pipe had a minor thread leak, likely the result of ground movement causing slight pipe stress over time. The black zip tie visible on the pipe was a previous owner's attempt to address something — it was doing nothing useful.
A soap test is the standard first-pass detection method: apply gas leak detection fluid or soapy water to fittings and joints, then watch for bubbles or foam expansion under pressure. It's simple and definitive — there's no ambiguity when the foam builds up the way it did here.
What We Did
- Isolated the gas supply at the meter shutoff valve
- Removed and re-made the leaking threaded fitting with fresh PTFE tape and gas-rated jointing compound
- Re-pressurised and re-tested every fitting on the outlet side with leak detection fluid
- Confirmed no other leak points before restoring supply
- Relighted all gas appliances inside the home and verified operation
Don't use switches, phones, or appliances inside. Evacuate and call us or Multinet/AusNet gas emergency on 132 771. Don't try to locate the leak yourself — even a small spark can ignite accumulated gas.
Common Causes of Gas Meter Leaks
Most leaks at the meter are at threaded fittings rather than the meter body itself (which is sealed and maintained by the gas distributor). The most common causes we see are ground movement causing micro-stress on rigid connections, corrosion of older steel fittings, and original thread joints that were never properly sealed — particularly in older Melbourne homes where the gas system hasn't been touched in decades.
If your home is pre-1980s and the gas system hasn't had a full inspection, it's worth having a licensed gasfitter check all accessible external fittings as a precaution. The cost of an inspection is a fraction of what happens when a leak goes undetected.
Gas Smell? Call Us Now.
We cover Oakleigh and all surrounding suburbs. Licensed gasfitter, emergency response, same day.