Plumber for gas line installation and repair in Burbank

Yes, plumbers install and repair gas lines. In California the job goes to a contractor with the proper state license, and it is no weekend project. Through us, a local plumber visits your Burbank home, measures the run and hands you a written price, and the permit is normally included. A new line is tested for leaks before gas is turned on. Should you smell gas at this moment, step outside first. Other plumbing services are listed on the Lankershim Plumbing home page, and costs are in our gas line price guide.

Do plumbers install gas lines?

Yes. Plumbers install gas lines to stoves, ovens, dryers, water heaters, fireplaces, furnaces and outdoor grills. The contractor has to hold the correct California license, and your city's building department requires a permit and then an inspection. A plumber also tests the new pipe for leaks before the gas company or the owner turns the gas on.

The state's licensing board, the Contractors State License Board, has a free License Check page where you can enter a contractor's number and see the license, its classification and its status. Ask the contractor for the number, and check that the classification covers gas piping. A person willing to run gas lines with no license and no permit exposes you and your insurer to real risk.

Do plumbers also do gas lines for stoves, fireplaces and dryers?

Yes, these are the most common gas jobs in a home. A plumber can run a line to a new range, convert a kitchen from electric to gas, add a gas log or gas fireplace feed, supply a dryer or put a gas stub outside for a grill. Each appliance needs a line sized for its load and a shutoff valve within reach.

Fireplaces add a clearance and venting question that the appliance maker's instructions answer, and a plumber follows those. A line to an outdoor grill or fire pit means going through a wall or under a patio, which adds trenching or drilling. Published guides show a stove or oven hookup in the range of about $376 to $1,278 and a fireplace hookup about $357 to $1,215, nationally.

How long does it take to install a new gas line?

One appliance on a short run can be done in a couple of hours. A longer route through walls or a slab eats most of a day, and repiping the whole house stretches over several days. The plumber's time is only part of it. Permit processing and the inspection visit can add days, so book early if you have an appliance delivery date.

Expect gas to be off at the meter or appliance for part of the visit. Cooking and hot water may be unavailable for some hours. The plumber pressure tests the new line and an inspector may check it before the line is covered. Ask the plumber for a rough schedule while you are getting the quote, since the permit step shifts the timing.

How much does a plumber charge to install a gas line?

Published national figures for a typical gas line job run $120 to $1,350, and replacing the whole house's piping costs $3,000 to $7,000. Cost follows the length of the run, the access, the number of appliances and the permit. A short line to a stove near the meter costs far less than a long line to a fire pit.

Our gas line price guide has the full table, the per-foot figures and what the pipe material costs. Ask the plumber for the footage, the pipe type and the permit fee as separate lines. If you want to see all three side by side before you decide, a written quote from our quote page shows them.

What is a gas plumber called?

There is no separate title in California. A gas plumber is a plumbing contractor whose state license covers gas piping, and the contractor, not the individual tradesperson, holds the license. The "Gas Safe" register belongs to the United Kingdom and has no meaning in California. Check the contractor on the state's License Check page instead.

When you phone around, ask whether the company does residential gas piping and whether they pull the permit themselves. Some plumbers do water work only and subcontract gas. Ask who will be on your property, and who stands behind the work if a leak shows up afterwards.

Do plumbers deal with gas leaks and gas issues?

Yes, a plumber repairs leaking gas pipe, replaces corroded fittings and old appliance connectors, and caps lines that are no longer used. A gas leak is an emergency first and a repair second. When gas is in the air, walk outside and phone SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 from the street, and ring 911 too if anyone is at risk. No light switches, no flames.

Do not try to find a leak with a flame or a match. A plumber uses a gas detector or a pressure test. After the utility has made things safe, the plumber repairs the pipe and tests it. Gas piping repair, like new gas piping, belongs with a contractor who holds a California license. Whether an owner may do any of it under a permit is for the building department to say, and we advise against it.

What is the average cost to fix a gas line leak?

Published figures show about $120 to $250 for a leak behind a stove and about $270 to $760 in a crawl space or inside a wall. A buried line costs between $1,500 and $5,000. Finishing work, like drywall or flooring, is extra. The first step is to make the leak safe, and cost comes second.

Buried line repairs cost most because of digging, locating other utilities and restoring the surface. Call 811 before anyone digs. If a plumber, contractor or gardener hits a gas line, everyone leaves the area at once, no one starts an engine, and SoCalGas is called from a safe distance.

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What about the earthquake gas shutoff valve?

An earthquake gas shutoff valve closes the gas automatically when it senses strong shaking, and a manual shutoff lets you close it by hand. The 1994 Northridge earthquake, centered in the Valley, is why many owners ask about them. Whether your job requires one depends on your city's rules, so ask the building department.

A valve installed on the gas line at the meter should be fitted by a plumber, and so should the reset after it trips. Installed costs of about $300 to $500 are published. We have guides on the earthquake shutoff valve and how to reset one, and on residential gas piping codes.

What permits do I need for gas work in Burbank?

Gas piping jobs generally call for a permit plus an inspection. Burbank handles that in its Building Division and Glendale in Building and Safety. For the LA city neighborhoods of the Valley it is LADBS, the city's building department. Confirm the rule for your address with the department, as fees and procedures differ by city.

Pulling the permit is usually built into the plumber's quote. Published guides put permits at $100 to $300 and inspections at about $50 to $75, though that varies by city. The permit protects you: the inspector confirms the line was installed correctly and tested before it is hidden in a wall. See also our page on permits for a water heater.

Questions people ask

Can a plumber run a gas line to a stove?

Yes. From the closest suitable gas pipe, a plumber runs a line to the kitchen range, adds a shutoff valve and a flexible connector, and tests the line. In a formerly electric kitchen, the plumber also confirms that the meter and the pipe diameter can carry the extra load. A permit and an inspection come with it.

Can a plumber cap off a gas line or move it?

Yes. Capping a line that is no longer used and relocating a line when you remodel are routine plumber jobs. The plumber shuts the gas, fits a proper cap, tests for leaks and, in most cities, has the work inspected. Do not cap a gas line yourself, and do not leave an unused line open.

Who is allowed to repair a gas line in California?

In practice, a contractor holding the proper California license, and a permit is usually part of the work. You can check a contractor on the CSLB License Check page. A repair by someone without a license can fail an inspection, endanger your household and cause trouble with insurance.

What should I ask before hiring a plumber for gas work?

Obtain the contractor's CSLB number and verify it online. Find out who handles the permit, which pipe goes in, whether the quote includes the pressure test and inspection and what wall or flooring repair is included. Ask for the full price in writing. Requests start on our quote form.

Do I need to be home for gas line work?

An adult has to be home when the work begins to point out the meter, the appliance and the shutoff, and again at the end for the walkthrough and test. Gas service might be shut off for a portion of the visit. Clear the work area, and keep kids and animals out of it during the job.