By Mickey Wilson, owner of One Hour Plumbing Service. Licensed plumbing contractor, CSLB #992029.
If you smell gas right now
- Get everyone out of the house.
- Do not flip light switches, use the garage door opener, or light anything.
- Do not start a car in an attached garage.
- From outside, call the gas company or 911.
- Stay out until they tell you it is safe.
Signs of a gas line leak
- A rotten-egg or sulfur smell, indoors or in the yard
- A hissing sound near a gas appliance or the meter
- A patch of dead grass or plants over a buried gas line
- A gas bill that climbs with no change in use
- Pilot lights that keep going out
What the gas company does
The gas company owns the line up to and including the meter. They come out, check for the leak, and shut off the gas if it is not safe. If the leak is on your side of the meter, they will leave the gas off until it is repaired.
What a plumber does
Everything after the meter belongs to the homeowner: the pipe to the house, the lines to the water heater, furnace, stove, and dryer, and the shutoff valves and connectors at each appliance. A licensed plumber finds the leak, repairs or replaces the line, and pressure-tests it. Gas work generally requires a permit and an inspection before service is restored.
Older homes and gas lines
In the 1950s homes across Downey and Norwalk, gas lines are often original steel pipe. Underground sections can rust through, and old appliance connectors can crack. If you are adding a gas appliance, such as a tankless water heater or a range, the existing line may also be too small and need to be upsized.
Getting the gas back on
Once the gas company has made it safe, call Mickey. He will tell you what the repair involves and what it costs before he starts, handle the permit, and get the line tested so service can be restored. One Hour Plumbing Service is licensed and bonded, CSLB #992029.
Related service: Gas Line Repair & Replacement
Service area: Plumber in Downey