Plumbing Services: Gas Leaks

Gas Leaks are a frightening topic, but one that should be discussed. Sunset Plumbing has the expertise to handle all of your gas line plumbing needs. The following information is provided to you from www.Safety.com . Once the required steps are taken to ensure your immediate safety, give Sunset Plumbing a call and we will help you adress the issue completely.

Detecting Gas Leaks and What To Do

Natural gas is odorless. However, gas companies add a "rotten egg" smell that usually can be easily detected when gas leaks. If you smell natural gas or suspect a gas leak, it is important to act quickly:

  • Leave the premises immediately, opening doors and extinguishing any open flames, if possible.
  • Do not unplug or plug in any electrical appliances, or turn off or on any light switches. This can cause a spark that could touch off a gas fire.
  • Call your gas company or 9-1-1 from a neighbor's phone. Operating a telephone in your home can also cause a spark.
  • Do not smoke or light matches near your home. And be careful with some flashlights, as turning them on may cause a spark.
  • Do not re-enter your home until a gas company official has inspected the premises, made any necessary repairs, and deemed it safe.

To help prevent gas leaks, it is important to make sure your gas appliances are properly installed and vented, and kept clean and in good working order. Annual inspections by a qualified technician also are recommended. To reduce a chance of fire, be sure to keep all combustible materials away from furnaces, water heaters, ranges or other gas appliances.

For additional peace of mind, an easy-to-install home gas detector unit can be purchased at home centers for $35 to $50. Typical gas detectors will identify methane and propane gas. A separate detector is needed for carbon monoxide ($45-$50). Gas detectors are especially recommended for the elderly or anyone with a diminished sense of smell.

Gas leaks also can occur outdoors, but are much more difficult to detect by smell. Indications of a possible outdoor gas leak include a hissing sound; dirt or water being blown into the air; bubbles on the surface of puddles or ponds; or dead grass or vegetation near a gas line. If any of these are detected, avoid the area and call your gas company or 9-1-1 from a neighbor's phone.

-- Kenneth Krause

Gas Leaks / Gas Smell

Gas leaks can be a serious problem. However, if you follow a few simple procedures, you can keep your family safe. Our knowledgeable staff will help guide you through the process to fix the problem; we will send a technician with experience to solve the problem and take care of you and your family.

SDGE adds an odor to the natural gas used throughout your home. This makes it easier to detect possible leaks. If you suspect an immediate threat:

  • Don't panic
  • Don't light a match, candle, or cigarettes
  • Don't use or try to turn off any appliances or meters
  • Make sure all members of your family are safely outside of the home
  • Call SDGE or 911 from a cell phone outside or from a neighbor's house
  • Call Sunset Plumbing immediately after SDGE or 911 so we can help

If SDGE has already tagged, or "locked" out your meter, Sunset Plumbing will help. We will assess and diagnose the problem and in many cases we can give you a free estimate for repair. We will also call DigAlert* so that we can safely dig in the affected areas. We often can start work as soon as DigAlert is notified and the area is deemed "clear."

*DigAlert is a free service provided by corporations and governmental or public entities or agencies who own or maintain underground facilities. ensures that no underground gas lines will be damaged while repairs are made, causing further damage, explosions, or fire.

Gas Leaks / SDGE Shut Down

If your local utility company interrupts your natural gas service because of a leak, Sunset Plumbing can:

  • Test the system
  • Get the Permit
  • Locate the leak
  • Repair quickly and efficiently
  • Be available for the Inspection

Sunset Plumbing's certified gas technicians have the knowledge to pinpoint the leak and make repairs according to the Uniform Plumbing Code, for all the accepted types of gas piping.

Our company will have the gas line system inspected by your local building department to further assure your safety.

Gas Leaks / Permitting

Sunset Plumbing will provide all the help you need to make the job, from start to finish, as smooth and free of complications as possible. You will have peace of mind that Sunset Plumbing will provide you with quality work and confirmation from the city inspector.

Once you approve our estimate we immediately get started with the work and the necessary protocols for pulling permits and scheduling inspections. We process all paperwork, and schedule necessary inspections. Sunset Plumbing requires all SDGE lock-outs to be permitted and inspected by the City and County of San Diego.

Dealing with all of this can be challenging, but we are on your side. We ensure that all work performed is of the highest quality, and backed by the city.

Gas Leaks / Earthquake Safety

Earthquake Safety has always been a major concern for Southern California residents. All water heaters installed in our region must have a restraint system installed to provide resistance against movement in an earthquake.

Earthquake Valves or emergency gas shut off valves have long been a requirement for properties in more volatile seismic zones in California but only recently have insurance companies become more stringent in their enforcement of requiring properties in the San Diego area to have these safety devices installed.

These valves are installed near the gas meter and will in a seismic disturbance activate a system that will shut the gas supply off at the meter. This would prevent many fires and gas explosions after an earthquake.

Sunset Plumbing understands the laws and requirements and will offer the right Earthquake Valves best suited for compliance for your application.

Gas Leaks / Repiping Gas Leaks

Sunset Plumbing has long been a leader in the gas repiping market. Our diversity of products and attention to detail allow you very competitively priced repipe with long product life and safety as our primary concern.

Our large inventory of pipe threading equipment allows us to handle any threading needs on traditional steel gas piping system. All Sunset Plumbing employees are professionally trained in threading procedures that ensure safety for you and your home.

Sunset Plumbing is also at the forefront of the new technologies available in the gas repiping field. We can offer new PE Pipe (Polyethelene) for underground gas lines as well as the new CSST or Trac-pipe for above ground installations. These new products greatly reduce labor costs and at the same time bring long lasting material to your job.

As with traditional threaded steel applications all Sunset Plumbing employees are trained extensively and are certified per manufacturer's guidelines before they are allowed to install these new products.