Gas Line Services in San Diego, CA

Smell gas? Leave first

1. Get everyone out, pets included, and leave the door open behind you.
2. Do not flip switches, unplug anything, light a flame or start a car nearby.
3. Once you are a safe distance away, call 911 and SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343.
4. Stay out until the utility or emergency responders say it is safe.

A plumber comes in after the immediate danger is handled, to locate and repair the leak in your piping.

Your lines versus the utility's

SDG&E maintains the pipelines and the meter. It says customers are responsible for maintaining all gas lines on their side of the meter, including lines to appliances and, where the meter is at the curb, the line to the building. Some of that piping is buried, and SDG&E recommends having it located and inspected and repairing corrosion or leaks promptly. Some homes in outlying areas have no utility gas and run on propane or all-electric appliances; if you are unsure who supplies you, the utility is listed on your gas bill.

Common gas line jobs

• New lines for ranges, dryers, water heaters, fireplaces and outdoor kitchens
• Replacing corroded or damaged sections, including buried yard lines
• Pressure testing after repairs or before an appliance is connected
• Installing shutoff valves and flexible appliance connectors
• Capping lines when switching an appliance to electric

Permits and digging

The City of San Diego Development Services Department issues a combined Plumbing/Gas Permit for altering or adding to these systems. For buried runs, SDG&E says California law requires a free DigAlert request through 811 at least two working days before digging. Utility-owned lines get marked, but customer-owned lines do not, so private gas piping needs a locating professional.

What affects cost

Length and route of the run, pipe material, the number of appliances, outdoor trenching, permit and inspection, and wall or patio repair afterward. Get a written scope before work starts.

Signs your piping needs attention

Beyond the smell of gas, watch for a hissing sound near a line or appliance, dead patches of plants over a buried run, rust or flaking on exposed outdoor pipe, and pilot lights that struggle to stay lit. Salt air near the coast speeds corrosion on exterior gas piping, so a periodic look at outdoor runs is worth the time. Any of these warrants an inspection by a qualified plumber.