If you smell gas
Leave the house right away and take everyone with you. Don’t flip switches, use phones inside, or start a car in an attached garage. Once you’re outside and away from the building, call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 or dial 911.
Shutting off the gas at the meter takes a wrench and a quarter turn, but only do it if it’s safe and you know how. After the leak is made safe, a licensed plumber can find and repair it.
Common gas line jobs
Short answer: most calls fall into four groups, which are new appliance lines, leak repairs, upgrades for bigger appliances, and outdoor lines.
- New appliance hookups: a new range, dryer or water heater in a new spot needs a line and a shutoff valve.
- Leak repair: old fittings and corroded pipe can let gas escape, often at joints near appliances.
- Upgrades for bigger loads: a tankless water heater or a larger range can need more gas than the old line carries.
- Outdoor lines: grills, fire pits and pool heaters need a properly buried or protected run.
How gas line work is done
The plumber starts by working out how much gas each appliance needs and sizing the pipe to carry it over the length of the run. Undersized pipe starves appliances, which makes them run poorly and can affect how cleanly they burn.
New piping is usually black steel or flexible corrugated stainless tubing, depending on the route and local rules. Corrugated tubing has to be bonded to the home’s electrical system according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Every new or repaired line is pressure-tested before it goes into service. The city inspector checks the test, the materials and the valves before the plumber turns the gas on and relights appliances.
What gas line work costs in Whittier
The total usually depends on these factors:
- How long the run is, and whether it goes through the attic, under the floor or outside
- Pipe material and the number of fittings and valves
- Opening and patching walls or ceilings
- Trenching for an outdoor line
- Permit fees, and whether the gas meter needs upgrading
Earthquakes and your gas
Southern California homes should be ready for a strong earthquake. Know where your gas meter is, keep a shutoff wrench nearby, and shut the gas off only if you smell gas or hear it hissing after a quake. Some owners also choose an automatic seismic shutoff valve, which a plumber can install at the meter.
What you can do yourself
This one is worth a DIY try first: check that the flexible connector behind your range or dryer is a modern coated one and isn’t kinked or crushed. If it’s an old uncoated brass connector, ask a plumber to replace it.
Everything else, from new valves to leak repair, belongs with a licensed C-36 plumber. Gas work needs a permit, a pressure test and an inspection, and mistakes can be deadly.
