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Boiler Smells of Gas or Burning? What To Do Immediately (London)

Boiler smells of gas or burning? Stop and deal with it properly.

I’m going to be direct here, because this is one of those situations where “it’s probably fine” is the wrong default. A gas smell, or a burning/electrical smell near a boiler, is not a normal boiler quirk. Sometimes it’s minor. Sometimes it’s not. Either way, you treat it seriously first — then you diagnose.

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Do this first (before you “check the boiler”)

If you can smell gas strongly, or you feel dizzy/headachy, don’t hang around debating it. Ventilate, isolate, leave if needed.

  1. Don’t use switches, lighters, or anything that could spark.
  2. Open windows/doors to ventilate the area.
  3. If safe, turn the boiler off using the boiler controls (no electrical tinkering).
  4. If you know where the gas shut-off is and it’s safe to reach, isolate the gas supply.
  5. Move people (and pets) away from the boiler cupboard / kitchen.
  6. Call for urgent help. If you’re unsure, err on the side of caution.

Once you’ve done the above, you can use this: urgent boiler repair pathway. We’ll ask a couple of sensible questions and then either attend or point you to the correct next step.

From Forest Gate to East Ham, we provide rapid boiler and plumbing support across Newham with a trusted plumber in Newham.

Gas smell vs burning smell: what it can indicate

People describe these smells differently, so here’s the translation we use on call-outs:

“Eggy” / sulphur-type gas smell: Could be a leak somewhere on the gas line or appliance connections. Sometimes it’s obvious, sometimes it isn’t. If you smell gas, you treat it as urgent until proven otherwise.

“Hot plastic” / “electrical burning” smell: Often linked to wiring, a stressed fan motor, a pump, or a component getting hotter than it should. That can lead to failure, and in rare cases it can become hazardous — so we take it seriously.

“Dusty burning” smell after months of no heating: Sometimes it’s just dust on a warm surface when the heating kicks back in… but here’s the catch: the first time you notice it you don’t actually know if it’s dust. So we check properly.

If your boiler is also making loud noises during this, don’t try to connect the dots yourself. Use this guide: banging boiler noise at night explained.

About the team behind ARA Services (and why this is handled carefully)

ARA Services Ltd is based at Durning Hall, Suite 14, Hyat Hub 14, Earlham Grove, London E7 9AB. We cover London and nearby areas with 24/7 support.

Abdul is our Gas Safe engineer (Gas Safe ID 626557), and he’s the one who signs off our boiler safety guidance. We don’t do “wait and see” advice for anything that could impact safety. It’s not worth it.

You’ll get transparency from us: what we can do, what we can’t do over the phone, and what the next step should be. No weird pressure tactics, no drama voice.

What we check on a gas/burning smell call-out

We don’t just “look at it” and leave. A proper safety call-out has a process:

  • Visual inspection of the boiler casing, flue route, ventilation and immediate pipework.
  • Check for obvious leaks, damaged seals, scorch marks or heat-stressed wiring.
  • Operational checks: fan operation, ignition behaviour, stable flame (where applicable), and temperature rise.
  • Identify whether the fault is gas-side, electrical-side, or airflow/flue related.
  • Explain next steps clearly — repair, parts, or immediate isolation if required.

If what you’re really experiencing is repeated shutdowns in cold weather (common in winter), use this page: boiler turning off in the cold.

For urgent attendance, go here: emergency boiler repair in London.

What customers usually say after a smell-related call-out

“He didn’t panic us, but he didn’t brush it off either — explained what it could be and checked it properly.”

“I expected to be told to buy a new boiler. Instead he found the actual issue and fixed it.”

“We called late and got a clear answer straight away. That’s rare.”

If you want the fastest route again, use this: emergency boiler assistance page.

FAQ (different questions, different rhythm)

What if I can’t tell if it’s gas or just “hot plastic”?

Treat it as urgent until you know otherwise. Ventilate, turn the boiler off if safe, and call for advice. You don’t win anything by guessing.

Can a boiler smell slightly when the heating first comes on?

Sometimes, yes — dust heating up can smell “burny” for a minute or two, especially after months of little use. But if it persists, gets stronger, or comes with cut-outs/noises, it needs checking properly.

Should I keep the boiler running if I still have hot water?

If you’re smelling gas or burning, no. Don’t prioritise hot water over safety. Isolate and get advice.

Do you cover flats as well as houses?

Yes — flats are common for this sort of issue because cupboards are tight and airflow can be limited. Tell us if the boiler is boxed in and where the flue exits. It helps.

If I searched “emergency boiler repair near me”, will you still come?

Yes. People search that in a panic — completely normal. We cover London and nearby areas and we’ll guide you to the right next step quickly. If it’s a safety situation, we treat it as one.

If you smell gas or burning, don’t sit with it.

Call 07727 154746 to speak with a Gas Safe engineer. If you’re near Stratford / Forest Gate / Ilford we’re often already close. Chelsea and central routes covered too. If it’s urgent, use the emergency boiler repair hub.

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