Gas Leak Detection, Gas Line Repair, and Gas Line Installation
Full Nelson locates and repairs gas leaks, installs new gas lines, and pressure tests systems to verify safety. Gas work requires licensed plumbers trained in gas piping codes and leak detection procedures.
Gas Leak Detection
Natural gas is odorless in its raw form. The rotten egg smell you associate with gas is mercaptan, an additive that utility companies blend in specifically so leaks can be detected by smell. But not every leak produces an obvious odor. Small leaks at pipe fittings, appliance connectors, or underground lines may go unnoticed until they worsen.
Signs of a gas leak include:
- Rotten egg or sulfur smell near gas appliances or along gas line routes
- Hissing or whistling sound near a gas pipe, meter, or appliance connection
- Dead or dying vegetation above a buried gas line when surrounding plants are healthy
- Bubbles in standing water near a gas line
- A higher-than-normal gas bill without a change in usage
- Physical symptoms like headaches, dizziness, or nausea when indoors
If you smell gas strongly or suspect a major leak, leave the house immediately and call your gas utility’s emergency line from outside. Do not flip light switches, use phones inside the house, or start vehicles in an attached garage. Once the utility has confirmed it is safe to proceed, Full Nelson can locate and repair the leak.
Gas Line Repair
Gas leaks develop at threaded fittings, corroded sections, flexible connector failures, or at points where the line has been damaged by vibration, settlement, or accidental contact. Full Nelson repairs gas lines by isolating the affected section, making the repair, and pressure testing the entire system before restoring service.
Common gas line repairs include:
- Replacing corroded or damaged pipe sections
- Tightening or replacing leaking threaded fittings and unions
- Replacing flexible appliance connectors that have cracked or deteriorated
- Repairing or rerouting lines damaged during renovation or other construction
- Replacing shut-off valves at individual appliances
After any gas line repair, we perform a pressure test on the system. The test holds the line at a set pressure for a specified time to confirm there are no remaining leaks anywhere in the system.
Gas Line Installation
New gas line installation extends your gas piping to serve additional appliances or new locations.
Full Nelson installs gas lines for:
- Gas ranges and cooktops
- Gas dryers
- Outdoor gas grills and built-in kitchens
- Gas fire pits and fireplaces
- Pool and spa heaters
- Standby generators
All new gas line installations are pressure tested and inspected before the line is activated.
Gas Piping Materials
Residential gas piping uses several materials depending on the application and local code requirements.
Black iron pipe
The traditional standard for interior gas piping. Threaded connections. Durable and well-suited to exposed and concealed runs inside the home.
CSST (Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing)
A flexible yellow or black jacketed tubing that routes through walls and floors more easily than rigid pipe. Requires proper bonding and grounding per code.
Copper
Permitted in some jurisdictions for gas piping. Not universally accepted. Full Nelson uses the material appropriate for your installation and local code.
The pipe material, diameter, and total run length all factor into the sizing calculation. Longer runs or multiple appliances on the same line require larger diameter pipe to maintain adequate gas pressure at each appliance.
Why Full Nelson
- Family, Women, and Veteran owned since 2003
- Licensed plumbers trained in gas piping codes
- Electronic leak detection equipment
- Pressure testing after every repair and installation
- Up-front pricing before work begins
- 24/7 emergency service for gas leak situations