Smell Gas? Leave First, Then Call
A gas smell is a leave-the-house situation, and the utility makes the area safe. After that comes the repair or new line, which is plumber work. Call, and a licensed plumber serving your area will take it from there.
- Licensed and insured plumbers
- Same-day service when available
- 24/7 emergency dispatch
If You Smell Gas, Do This First
Gas leaks are a safety emergency, and the first steps happen outside the house.
- Leave the building at once and take everyone with you.
- Do not use switches, lighters, appliances or a phone inside.
- From a safe distance, call your gas utility or 911.
- Stay out until the utility or fire department says it is safe.
- Call a plumber for repairs after the area is cleared.
Do not search for the source or try to tighten a fitting. Leave first and let the utility make the area safe.
Who Does What
The roles are different, and knowing them speeds help.
| Who | What they handle |
|---|---|
| Gas utility or 911 | Shutting off supply and making the area safe |
| Licensed plumber | Repairing or replacing piping and fittings on the house side and connecting appliances |
| Appliance technician | Servicing the appliance itself, which can be separate from the piping |
Suspect a gas problem?
Leave the building and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. Call dispatch once it is safe.
Gas Line Repair
Gas piping can be steel, copper or flexible connectors depending on the age of the house and the appliance. A repair means finding the leak with a detector or soapy water test, replacing the failed fitting or section, and pressure testing the line before any appliance is restored. A line that has been repaired is checked again to confirm it holds.
The plumber also checks the shutoff valves and the connectors on each appliance, since a worn flexible connector is a common weak point.
New Gas Lines and Connections
New lines serve kitchen ranges, dryers, outdoor grills, fire pits, generators and water heaters. The plumber sizes the pipe for the total load, routes it, supports it, adds a shutoff at each appliance and tests it. If the existing supply is too small for the new load, the line size or the meter capacity may need to change, and the gas supplier is involved.
A new tankless or gas water heater is covered on the tankless and water heater installation pages.
Gas Permits and Inspections
A building permit is required for most plumbing, electrical or mechanical work in Fauquier County, and the plumbing permit includes fuel gas. Inside the Town of Warrenton, ask Community Development (540-347-2405). County addresses go through the county office instead, at 540-422-8230. An inspection follows many gas jobs before the line goes into service.
Ask for the permit number and the inspection result for your records.
Carbon Monoxide and Appliance Safety
Gas appliances produce combustion gases that must vent outside. A blocked flue, a cracked heat exchanger or a poorly vented water heater can send carbon monoxide into the home, which has no smell. Working carbon monoxide detectors on each level are a basic safeguard. If an alarm sounds, leave and call 911.
Need gas piping work?
Say what appliance or line is involved. You will hear what a plumber can do and what the utility handles.
Appliance Connectors and Shutoff Valves
Each gas appliance should have its own shutoff valve within reach. A range, dryer or water heater connects through a flexible connector, and connectors wear, kink and corrode. A plumber checks that the valve works, the connector is the right type for the appliance and the connection is tight. Moving a range or dryer is a good moment to replace an old connector.
Getting Ready for a Gas Job
Tell the plumber which appliances are involved and whether any are new. Clear access to the lines and the appliance, and know where the utility shutoff is. For a new line, expect questions about the total load of all gas appliances, since that sizes the pipe.
Pressure Testing and Leak Checks
After any gas piping work, the plumber tests the line before it goes back in service. A pressure test holds air at a set pressure and watches the gauge. A leak solution brushed on joints bubbles where gas escapes. Fittings are tightened or replaced until the test holds. Appliances are reconnected and lit only after the line passes. If an inspection is required, the line stays accessible until the inspector signs off.
Replacing Gas Pipe: Black Iron and CSST
Gas piping inside homes is commonly black iron, which is threaded steel pipe, or corrugated stainless steel tubing known as CSST, which is flexible and easier to route. Each has its own fittings, supports and bonding requirements, and manufacturers publish installation rules. A plumber replacing a section follows those rules and tests the repaired line. The right choice depends on what is already in the house and what the code requires.
New lines can also serve a fireplace, a generator and an outdoor grill, with a shutoff for each.
Gas Line Questions
What do I do if I smell gas?
Leave the building right away with everyone inside. Do not switch lights, appliances or phones on or off inside. From outside, call your gas utility or 911.
Who handles an emergency leak, the plumber or the utility?
Call your gas utility or 911 first. The utility can shut off supply and make the area safe. A plumber then repairs the piping on the house side after it is safe.
Do I need a permit for gas piping?
Under Fauquier County rules a plumbing permit covers fuel gas. Ask the plumber who pulls it, and call the office that covers your address: Town of Warrenton Community Development at 540-347-2405 or Fauquier County Community Development at 540-422-8230.
Can I run a gas line for a grill or range?
Gas lines should be installed by a licensed contractor, with a permit where required and a pressure test before use.
Is natural gas or propane used here?
It varies by address and supplier. The plumber confirms what your home uses before any work.
Gas line needs work?
Once the area is safe, phone dispatch and say which appliance or line is involved. A licensed plumber serving your area handles the piping.