When you smell gas, the last thing you want is to waste time calling the wrong number. The confusion is understandable. The gas company sends the bill and owns the meter, so it seems like they should fix everything. But in most cases they only handle part of the system. Here is how to know who to call for a natural gas leak, and in what order.
Strong smell, hissing or anyone feeling ill? Leave the building first, then call 911 or your gas utility from outside. Safety comes before working out who repairs what.
The short answer
- Call 911 or your gas utility first if the smell is strong, you hear hissing or anyone feels sick.
- The gas utility handles the meter, the regulator and the pipes leading to the meter.
- A gas line plumber repairs everything after the meter: the piping into your home, the branches to each appliance and every appliance connection.
The meter is the dividing line.
What the gas company is responsible for
Your gas utility owns and maintains the gas mains under the street, the service line that runs to your property and the meter and regulator assembly. If a leak is on any of that equipment, the utility repairs it at no charge to you.
The utility also handles emergency response. When you report a leak, they send someone to check for gas, make the area safe and find out whether the leak is on their equipment or yours.
In most of our service area around Cerritos, the gas utility is SoCalGas. Their website lists their emergency contact and safety steps. In Long Beach and Signal Hill, gas comes from the city-owned Long Beach Utilities, so that is the utility to call there. Your gas bill shows which one serves your address.
What happens when the utility responds
The utility technician typically:
- Checks the area for gas and makes it safe
- Tests the meter, regulator and the utility side of the line
- Repairs any leak on the utility’s equipment
- If the leak is on your side, shuts off gas to your house and may leave a tag on the meter
That tag is important. It means gas will not be turned back on until the leak on your side has been repaired and the piping has passed a test. This is where you need a gas line plumber.
What a gas line plumber is responsible for
Everything after the meter belongs to the property owner. That includes:
- The pipe from the meter into the house
- Branch lines inside walls, attics, crawlspaces and garages
- Buried lines to detached garages, pool heaters and outdoor kitchens
- Shut-off valves at each appliance
- Flexible connectors to ranges, dryers, water heaters and furnaces
A gas line plumber finds the leak, repairs or replaces the failed part, pressure tests the system and relights appliances. Our emergency gas leak repair and gas line repair pages explain what those visits involve.
Situations and who to call
| Situation | Call first |
|---|---|
| Strong gas smell inside the house | 911 or your gas utility, from outside |
| Hissing at the meter | 911 or your gas utility |
| Gas smell on the street or sidewalk | Your gas utility |
| Faint smell behind the stove or dryer | A gas line plumber |
| Utility shut off your gas and tagged the meter | A gas line plumber |
| Dead grass along a buried line in your yard | A gas line plumber, after the utility checks the meter |
| New appliance needs a gas connection | A gas line plumber |
Why not just call a general plumber?
Many plumbers focus on water and drain work. Gas piping has its own sizing rules, materials, connection methods and testing requirements. When you call, ask whether the company regularly works on gas lines and whether they will pressure test the system after the repair. A company that works on gas every day will know the local utility’s process for restoring service.
Do I need a permit for a gas leak repair?
Small repairs, such as replacing an appliance connector, often do not need one. Larger work, such as replacing sections of pipe or running new lines, typically requires a permit and an inspection in Southern California cities. A gas line plumber can tell you what your city asks for.
How the two work together
On a typical leak call, the process looks like this:
- You smell gas and call 911 or the utility if it is strong.
- The utility makes the area safe and checks its equipment.
- If the leak is on your side, the utility shuts off and tags the meter.
- You call a gas line plumber, who finds and repairs the leak.
- The plumber pressure tests the system.
- The utility restores service, and appliances are relit.
If the smell is faint and the utility does not need to come out, you can call a gas line plumber directly. They can test the system and find the source.
The bottom line
For any strong smell, safety first: get out and call 911 or the gas company. For the repair itself, a gas line plumber handles everything on your side of the meter. If you are in Cerritos or a nearby city such as Norwalk or Bellflower, our phones are answered 24 hours a day.