Question 1

What should I do if I smell gas?

Accepted Answer

If you smell gas, leave the area immediately without operating any switches or electronics. Call your gas company's emergency line from outside the home, and then call us at (949) 328-6002 for emergency gas line repair. Do not re-enter until the area has been cleared.

Question 2

Do I need a permit for gas line work?

Accepted Answer

Yes, California requires permits for most gas line installations, modifications, and repairs. We pull all necessary permits and schedule required inspections as part of our service, it's included in the process.

Question 3

Can you add a gas line for a new appliance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We install new gas lines for ranges, dryers, water heaters, fireplaces, outdoor grills, fire pits, pool heaters, and more. We'll assess your existing gas system's capacity, size the new line properly, and handle permits and inspections.

Question 4

How do I know if my gas line is undersized?

Accepted Answer

Signs of an undersized gas system include weak flames on the stove, a water heater that won't keep up, error codes on tankless units, or appliances that struggle when multiple gas devices run simultaneously. We can assess your system's total BTU demand and recommend resizing if needed.

Question 5

What materials do you use for gas line installation?

Accepted Answer

We use code-approved materials including black iron pipe, CSST (corrugated stainless steel tubing), and schedule 40 steel pipe. Material selection depends on the application, location (above or below ground), and local code requirements. All installations are pressure tested and inspected.

Question 6

What does a gas leak smell like?

Accepted Answer

Natural gas has no smell of its own. SoCalGas adds an odorant so a leak smells like rotten eggs or sulfur. Other signs are a hissing or whistling sound near an appliance or the meter, a dead or brown patch of grass over a buried line, bubbling in wet soil, and a gas bill that jumps with no change in use. Do not rely on your nose alone: a cold, allergies, or odor fade in older steel pipe can hide the smell. If anything seems off, treat it as a leak.

Question 7

Can I stay in the house if I smell gas?

Accepted Answer

No. Leave right away and take everyone with you, including pets. Do not flip switches, unplug anything, light a flame, or start a car in the garage; a spark can ignite the gas. Call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 from outside, and call 911 if there is damage or anyone feels dizzy or nauseous. Do not try to find or fix the leak yourself. Once you are outside and safe, call us and we will get a technician moving.

Question 8

Do plumbers fix gas leaks, or is that the gas company?

Accepted Answer

Both, on different sides of the meter. SoCalGas owns the line up to and including your meter; if the leak is there, they repair it at no charge. Everything after the meter is the homeowner's piping, and that is what a licensed plumber repairs. In practice SoCalGas often finds the leak, shuts the gas off, and tells you to call a plumber. We locate the leak, replace the bad section, pressure-test and certify the system, and handle the paperwork SoCalGas needs to turn you back on. Olson Superior is a licensed C-36 plumbing contractor, CSLB #1045399.

Question 9

How long does a gas leak repair take?

Accepted Answer

For most homes, one visit. Over the last twelve months our gas leak repairs took a median of about two and a half hours on site, and nearly all were finished the same day. A leak in a buried line under a driveway or yard is the exception: replacing the run, adding tracer wire, and restoring the surface is usually a full day. Getting the gas turned back on depends on the SoCalGas restore schedule, which we coordinate for you.

Question 10

Can a leaking gas line be sealed or patched?

Accepted Answer

No. Tape, epoxy, and sealants are not an approved repair for a gas line and will not pass the pressure test or inspection. The leaking section or fitting is cut out and replaced with code-approved pipe, the joints are made up with gas-rated thread sealant, and the whole system is pressure-tested before the gas goes back on. California requires a permit for the repair, and we pull it.

Question 11

Will a carbon monoxide detector warn me about a gas leak?

Accepted Answer

No. Carbon monoxide detectors sense the byproduct of incomplete combustion, not natural gas, so they stay quiet during a leak. If you want an alarm for gas itself, a natural gas detector is a separate device that plugs in near gas appliances. For most homes the odorant is the primary warning, which is why the rule is simple: if you smell it, leave and call.

Question 12

Are older homes more likely to have gas leaks?

Accepted Answer

Often, yes. The common causes we see are corroded black iron or galvanized pipe, buried lines that were installed decades ago without protection, and unpermitted work at an appliance connection. One recent repair was a sixty-year-old, hundred-foot line under a driveway. If your home is older and has never had its gas system pressure-tested, a test during a remodel, a water heater replacement, or a purchase is inexpensive insurance.

Question 13

How much does a gas leak repair cost?

Accepted Answer

Over the last twelve months, most gas leak detection and repair jobs we completed in Orange County ran between $540 and $1,250, with a typical job around $885. Replacing a buried line is the main exception and is quoted after we see the run. Detection is a flat diagnostic visit, every repair is quoted in writing before work starts, and pressure testing and certification are included.

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