How to Turn Off the Gas at Your Property — A Quick Guide for Taranaki Homeowners
If you smell gas, hear a hiss you can't explain, or a gas appliance starts behaving strangely, there's one thing you need to do immediately: turn the gas off.
Not after you've googled it. Not after you've called someone. Right now.
Knowing how to shut off your gas supply before something goes wrong is one of the most important things you can do as a homeowner — and it's something most people have never thought about until they're standing in their kitchen wondering if that smell is actually gas.
Here's exactly what to do.
how to know if your gas might be leaking - the warning signs
🚨IMPORTANT: If you suspect a gas leak, don't turn any lights or switches on or off, don't use your phone inside the house, and don't start your car in an attached garage. Any spark could be dangerous.
Get outside first, then call.
Before we get into how to turn it off, it helps to know what you're dealing with. Gas leaks aren't always as obvious as a water leak, but here are the signs to watch for:
A smell like rotten eggs or sulphur — gas companies add this smell deliberately so you notice it.
A hissing or blowing sound near a gas appliance or pipe.
Dead or discoloured patches of grass or plants near an outdoor gas line.
Bubbling in standing water near your property.
A gas appliance that won't stay lit or keeps cutting out.
How to Turn Off Your Gas Supply
Unlike water, there's no single standard location for a gas shut-off in New Zealand — it depends on whether your home runs on LPG (bottled gas) or natural/reticulated mains gas.
If You're on LPG (Gas Bottles)
LPG homes have one or more gas bottles — usually located outside on the side or rear of the house.
Step 1 — Find your bottles Look for the large grey or white cylinders outside your home. There may be one or two depending on your setup.
Step 2 — Turn off the regulator valve At the top of the bottle you'll see a valve — turn it clockwise until it stops. That cuts the gas supply from that bottle.
Step 3 — If you have two bottles Turn both off. Some setups automatically switch between bottles — if one is off, gas may still be flowing from the second.
If You're on Reticulated (Mains) Gas
Mains gas homes are connected to the street gas line. Your isolation valve is usually located:
At your gas meter — typically on the side of your house or near the front boundary. Look for a yellow or orange fitting with a lever or tap handle.
To turn it off: Turn the lever so it sits perpendicular (at a right angle) to the pipe. When it's inline with the pipe, gas is flowing. When it's across the pipe, it's off.
💡HOT TIP: Get into the habit of checking your LPG levels regularly. Running out of gas mid-winter is avoidable — most suppliers offer automatic top-ups or will text you when you're running low.
Hey, We’re How Good Plumbing & Gas.
Based in New Plymouth, we handle plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying right across Taranaki. Chuck our number in your phone now so that you have a plumber on standby - if the worst should happen!
How Good Plumbing & Gas
New Plymouth & Taranaki
Downloads a contact file — works on iPhone & Android
Turning Off Individual Gas Appliances
If the issue is isolated to one appliance rather than the whole house, you may be able to isolate just that fitting:
Gas hob — there's usually an isolation valve behind the hob or under the bench. Turn it clockwise to shut off gas to that appliance only.
Gas hot water system — look for an isolation valve on the gas pipe feeding into the unit, usually on the wall nearby.
Gas heater — most have a valve on the gas line at the back or base of the unit.
💡HOT TIP: If you can smell gas strongly or aren't sure where it's coming from, don't waste time looking for individual valves — shut off the whole supply at the meter or bottles and get outside.
What to Do After You've Turned the Gas Off
Once the gas is off, follow these steps:
Open all windows and doors to ventilate the property.
Leave the house and don't go back in until it's been checked.
Call a certified gasfitter — in Taranaki that's us — to inspect the system before you turn it back on. If you think there's a serious leak or you can still smell gas outside, call your gas supplier or 111.
Never turn the gas back on yourself after a suspected leak. A licensed gasfitter needs to inspect and clear the system first.
Do This Right Now (Before You Need It)
Don't wait for an emergency to figure out where the switch is.
Just like your water toby, find your gas shut-off today — before you ever need it. Make sure the valve moves freely and isn't corroded or painted over. Then show everyone in your household where it is and what to do.
Two minutes now could make a huge difference in an emergency.
Then show everyone in your household where it is. Kids, flatmates, partners — everyone who lives there should know where to find it and how to use it.
When to Call How Good Plumbing & Gas
Gas is not something to guess about. If you smell gas, suspect a leak, or just want someone to check your system and make sure everything is safe, How Good Plumbing & Gas is your local certified gasfitter in New Plymouth covering all of Taranaki.
We offer 24/7 callouts for gas emergencies and we'll always be straight with you about what's going on and what it'll cost to fix.
