Gas Line Services in Poway, CA

How old is the gas piping in a typical Poway house?

The median home in Poway was built around 1978, so a large share of houses still run on gas pipe installed when they were built. Steel gas pipe from the late 1970s is usually sound inside walls. The spots that wear are the ones exposed to weather or movement: the riser and fittings at the meter, outdoor runs along the side of the house, flexible connectors behind ranges and dryers, and shutoff valves that haven't been turned in decades. Poway's larger lots also tend to have buried lines feeding pool heaters, spas, barbecue islands or detached garages, and those lines belong to the homeowner from the meter onward. If you don't know where they run, a plumber can locate them before anyone digs.

Does gas work in Poway need a permit, and how is it filed?

New gas piping and alterations generally go through a plumbing permit. The City of Poway Building Division handles building services, with plan check, permitting and inspections contracted to EsGil Corporation. Submittals are electronic only, through City of Poway Online Services, so paper applications at the counter aren't an option. The plumber doing the job typically prepares the submission. For questions, Building Services is at Poway City Hall, 13325 Civic Center Drive (858-668-4645), and inspections are scheduled at 858-668-4646.

What should I do if I think the gas line is leaking?

If you can smell it, leave the house, keep everyone else out, and call 911 and SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343 once you are a safe distance away. Don't try to find the leak, and don't switch lights or appliances on or off on your way out. SDG&E will check the meter and its own service. If the leak turns out to be on your side, the utility may shut off the gas until a plumber repairs the piping and it passes a pressure test. For signs that aren't urgent, like a burner that won't light cleanly or a soot mark near a vent, schedule a plumber rather than waiting for it to get worse.

A local note

Poway sits inland, where winter nights run colder than along the coast. That is when the furnace and water heater work hardest, and when weak connections and failing pilots usually surface. A quick check of connectors and valves in early fall avoids most mid-winter surprises.