SDG&E serves Spring Valley, so a gas smell means getting outside first and then calling 911 and SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343 from a safe distance. Because Spring Valley is unincorporated, permits for gas piping go through the County of San Diego. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Spring Valley.
Spring Valley is a large, mostly single-family unincorporated community of about eleven square miles, with more multi-family housing added since the 1970s. Gas work here ranges from fixing a leaking valve in an older house to adding lines for a new range or water heater. Here is what to do, in order.
Steps to take
- Smell gas? Leave. Walk out, take people and pets with you, and avoid switches, phones and garage door openers inside.
- Call once you're clear. From outside, call 911 and SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343.
- Wait for the all-clear. SDG&E checks its equipment and may lock the meter off if the leak is in your piping.
- Get the repair done. A plumber finds and repairs the leak on your side, then pressure tests the line.
- Restore service properly. Gas is turned back on and pilots relit by SDG&E or a qualified professional, not by guesswork.
Symptom and likely cause
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Odor in the laundry area | Loose or aging dryer connector |
| Valve handle won't turn | Seized old shutoff valve |
| Burners slow to light, weak flame | Clogged burner ports or low supply to that branch |
| Rust at the meter riser or outdoor pipe | Weather and age on exposed steel |
| Water heater pilot keeps going out | Failing thermocouple or a draft problem |
| Dead vegetation along a path in the yard | Leak in a buried line |
What affects the cost
- Leak location and how much wall, floor or yard must be opened
- Slope: hillside lots on Dictionary Hill can make trenching and access slower
- Whether the existing line must be upsized for a new appliance
- County permit and inspection
- Number of new valves, connectors and fittings
Permits for unincorporated Spring Valley come from the County of San Diego Planning & Development Services, which runs its Permit Center in Kearny Mesa and handles simple permits, inspections and fees online through Accela Citizen Access. The plumber can tell you how the permit for your job will be filed and when the inspection fits into the schedule.
In the denser parts of the community, including apartments and condos built since the 1970s, check with the property manager or HOA before work starts, since shared meters and common walls can change who is responsible for which section of pipe.
Gas Line Services questions in Spring Valley
What should I do the moment I smell gas?
Is a permit needed for gas piping work here?
Should the old connector behind my stove or dryer be swapped out?
Which part of the gas piping is mine to maintain?
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