In short: To turn off the gas, Cadent says turn the red handle on the pipe by your meter a quarter turn, so it sits across the pipe (not if the meter is in a cellar). Electricity: switch off the main switch on your fuse box (consumer unit). If you smell gas, call 0800 111 999 (Northern Ireland 0800 002 001).
Key facts
- Cadent says the emergency control valve is the red handle near the pipe at your meter; it lines up with the pipe when on, and you turn it 90 degrees, a quarter turn clockwise or anti-clockwise, to shut off the gas. Source
- Cadent says not to turn the gas back on until you've been advised it's safe to do so. Source
- If you smell gas, National Gas says turn off the meter at the control handle unless the meter is in the cellar, and call 0800 111 999 (free, 24 hours). Source
- Electrical Safety First says modern consumer units (fuseboxes) have a main switch and fuses and/or circuit breakers, and that pressing an RCD's 'Test' button cuts power to the parts of the home it protects. Source
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Three switches matter in a home emergency: the gas handle at your meter, the main switch on your fuse box, and the stop tap for your water. Finding them on a calm evening, with a torch, takes about ten minutes. This guide follows Cadent, National Gas and Electrical Safety First. It's part of our household plan guides.
Gas: the red handle by your meter
Cadent says your meter may be in a garage, under the stairs, or in a box outside at the front or side of the house. Outside boxes open with a meter-box key.
- Find the red handle on the pipe next to the meter. Cadent calls it the emergency control valve.
- When the gas is on, the handle lines up with the pipe.
- To turn the gas off, turn it a quarter turn (90 degrees), clockwise or anti-clockwise, so it sits across the pipe.
- Don't turn it back on until you've been told it's safe.
If the meter is in a cellar, don't go down there. National Gas says turn off the meter "unless the meter is in the cellar", and SGN says not to enter a cellar even if your meter is there.
If you smell gas, call 0800 111 999 (free, 24 hours) or 0800 002 001 in Northern Ireland. Our smell gas guide has every step.
Electricity: the main switch on the fuse box
Your fuse box is also called a consumer unit. Electrical Safety First says modern units have a main switch and fuses or circuit breakers.
- The main switch turns off the electricity to the whole home. You'll lose your lights too, so have a torch ready.
- The circuit breakers (or fuses) each control one part of the home. Labels on the unit usually say which.
- An RCD has a "Test" or "T" button. Electrical Safety First says pressing it cuts power to the parts of the home it protects; that's how you check it works.
Never take the cover off a consumer unit. If you see scorch marks or damage, or something keeps tripping, use a registered electrician.
Water: the stop tap
The Consumer Council for Water says the stop tap (stopcock) is usually under the kitchen sink, but it can be elsewhere in the house, or even outside. Check it turns on a calm day; if it's stiff, don't force it, and ask a plumber to look at it. Our frozen and burst pipes guide covers what to do if a pipe bursts.
Ten minutes with a torch
- Find the gas meter and its red handle. Is the meter in a cellar? Write that down.
- Find the fuse box and its main switch. Label the circuit breakers if they aren't labelled.
- Find the stop tap and check it turns.
- Write all three locations on your household plan and show everyone at home.
Limitations
This page summarises advice from gas networks and electrical safety bodies for households. It isn't a substitute for a Gas Safe registered engineer or a registered electrician. If anyone is hurt or there's a fire, call 999.
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Frequently asked questions
Which way do I turn the gas meter handle to turn it off?
Cadent says the handle lines up with the pipe when the gas is on. Turn it a quarter turn (90 degrees), either way, so it sits across the pipe. Don't turn it back on until you're told it's safe.
Should I turn off the gas if the meter is in the cellar?
No. National Gas says turn off the meter at the control handle unless the meter is in the cellar, and SGN says not to go into a cellar even if your meter is there. Leave the building and call 0800 111 999.
How do I turn off all the electricity?
Switch off the main switch on your consumer unit (fusebox). Electrical Safety First says modern units have a main switch plus fuses or circuit breakers. If anything is unclear, ask a registered electrician.
Sources
- Cadent: How to find your gas meter and turn off the gas supply (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- National Gas: Emergency contacts (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- SGN: Smell gas? (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- Consumer Council for Water: Winter advice (stop tap; as cited in our burst pipes guide)
- Electrical Safety First: Fuseboxes explained (checked 30 Oct 2026)