Knowing how to shut off the gas supply to your home is a fundamental safety skill. You may need to do this if you smell gas, if there is a gas leak inside the building, if your home has been damaged (earthquake, flood, structural damage), or if the gas utility has requested you shut off supply. Doing it correctly takes seconds; doing it incorrectly risks a gas-related incident.
When to Shut Off Your Gas
- You smell gas inside or immediately outside your home
- You hear a hissing sound near gas pipes or appliances
- You can see damage to your gas supply line (visible break, cracks, exposed pipe)
- Your home has been damaged by an earthquake or other structural event
- A fire is occurring near gas pipes or appliances
- A gas appliance is malfunctioning and cannot be turned off normally
Do NOT shut off if:
- There is a minor smell that dissipates when you open windows — ventilate first; call the gas company
- You are just leaving the house for a vacation — this is unnecessary and creates issues on return
- You are testing whether the shutoff works — only shut off if there is a genuine reason
⚠️ Once you shut off the gas at the meter, you must have it turned back on by a qualified gas engineer or the utility company. Do not attempt to turn it back on yourself after a suspected leak — the utility must inspect and restore supply.
Locating Your Gas Meter and Shutoff Valve
Where Is the Gas Meter?
Gas meters are typically located:
- On an external wall of the building (most common in new construction)
- In a meter box recessed into the external wall
- In a basement or utility room
- At the front of the property near the property boundary
- In a shared utility cupboard (flats/apartments)
The meter itself is a box with a dial or digital display showing consumption. The incoming pipe enters from the ground or wall.
Locating the Shutoff Valve
The main shutoff valve (also called a stopcock or emergency control valve) is located:
- On the pipe entering the meter — either before (upstream of) the meter or between the meter and your home's gas pipework
- It is a lever or a valve with a slot for a tool
How to Shut Off
Step 1: Locate the valve
Find the gas meter. The shutoff valve will be on the pipe immediately upstream of or at the meter. It may look like:
- A lever handle — a handle that is parallel to the pipe when open and perpendicular when closed
- A square spindle — requires a flat tool (a dedicated gas key or a screwdriver that fits the slot) to turn
Step 2: Turn off
Lever handle valve:
- When the lever is in line with the pipe (pointing the same direction as the pipe runs): gas is ON
- Turn the lever 90 degrees (a quarter turn) so it is perpendicular to the pipe: gas is OFF
Square spindle valve:
- Insert your gas key or flat tool into the slot on the spindle
- Turn 90 degrees: gas is OFF
- The slot should now be perpendicular to the pipe direction when off
Step 3: Confirm
After turning the valve, turn on a gas appliance inside (hob burner, for example):
- If no gas comes out — the shutoff is successful
- If gas still flows — the valve may not have fully turned; check position again
After Shutting Off
- Do not re-enter the building if a leak was the reason — exit and stay outside until the gas company has attended.
- Call your gas emergency number — in the UK: 0800 111 999; in the US: contact your local utility; have the number stored in your phone in advance.
- Do not operate light switches, electrical appliances, or anything that could create a spark while any gas smell is present.
- Leave doors and windows open if you must briefly re-enter to retrieve something — ventilation reduces the risk of a gas/air mixture reaching explosive concentration.
- Do not smoke or use any flame near the building.
Pre-Emergency Preparation
- Find your gas meter and shutoff valve now — before you need it.
- Purchase a gas meter key if your valve requires one — available at hardware stores.
- Share the location and procedure with all household members who are old enough to use it.
- Label the valve if it is not obvious — a piece of tape reading "GAS OFF/ON" is useful.
Quick Reference
| Valve Type | Gas ON | Gas OFF | Tool Needed |
|---|
| Lever handle | Handle parallel to pipe | Handle perpendicular to pipe | Hand only |
| Square spindle | Varies by meter | 90-degree turn | Gas key or flat tool |
| When to shut off | Smell of gas; hissing; pipe damage; structural damage | | |
| After shutoff | Do not re-enter; call gas emergency number; no sparks or flames | | |
| Restoration | Qualified gas engineer or utility company only — not DIY | | |