Water Heater Installation & Replacement
Swap out a dead tank heater for one sized, fueled and vented to suit the home.
Gas, backflow and business
Emergency Gas Line Repair and Installation in Louisville
A gas smell means everyone leaves the building, and the call to 911 or the gas utility comes from outside. Do not hunt for the leak yourself. After the supply is made safe, a licensed plumber can fix damaged piping or run new lines for a range, dryer, grill, fire feature or water heater.
Smell gas? Leave first. Call this line only after you are outside and the supply is safe.
If you smell gas
- Exit the buildingTake people and pets with you, and leave doors open if that is safe.
- No switches or flamesDo not use lights, phones inside, or lighters.
- Phone from outdoorsDial 911 or the gas utility once you are well clear of the building.
What gas work includes
Gas piping carries fuel from the meter to appliances. Work includes repairing a corroded or damaged section, adding a branch for a new appliance, installing a shutoff valve, and connecting flexible appliance connectors. Each connection must be gas-tight and tested.
Common projects are a gas range or cooktop, a dryer, an outdoor grill line, a fire pit or fireplace, a pool or spa heater, and a gas water heater or tankless unit. Each needs the right pipe size to deliver enough fuel.
Pipe size and capacity
A gas line has to carry enough volume to every appliance running at once. When a tankless water heater, a range and a furnace share a line, the original pipe may be too small. Undersized piping is a common cause of poor appliance performance.
A plumber calculates demand in BTUs, measures the run and sizes the pipe accordingly. Ask for that calculation before you buy a high-demand appliance.
In Louisville
High elevation and gas appliances
Louisville sits at roughly 5,400 feet, and gas appliances are adjusted for altitude. A properly installed range or heater runs with a stable blue flame. If you see yellow tips or soot, have it checked.
Utility service, meters and the line up to the meter belong to the gas company. The piping from the meter into the house is the owner's responsibility.
Cost
Pricing factors for gas line work
Gas work is priced by pipe length, size and the appliances involved. These factors shape the quote.
Ask who pulls the permit and whether the quote includes the pressure test and inspection.
Testing and inspection
After new gas work, the line is pressure-tested before it is put into service, and an inspection is typically required. Louisville's building department lists gas water heater work among its permitted jobs and requires a final inspection.
Never accept gas work that has not been pressure tested. Ask the contractor to show you the test and to explain what the inspection involves.
Warning signs of a problem
A rotten-egg smell is added to natural gas so you can notice a leak. Hissing near a pipe, dead vegetation near a buried line, and bubbles in standing water are other signs. Sometimes a leak is faint and noticed only near an appliance.
Carbon monoxide is a separate danger from a poorly burning appliance. Working carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas are essential. If one sounds, leave and call for help.
Gas appliance safety checks you can do yourself
Look at the flame. A steady blue flame is normal for a burner. Yellow or orange tips, soot around the burner or a flickering flame suggest incomplete combustion and need a professional look. Check carbon monoxide alarms monthly and replace them on the manufacturer's schedule.
Know where the shutoff is. Every gas appliance should have a shutoff valve within reach, and the whole house has a meter valve. A quarter turn so the handle is crosswise to the pipe closes it. Leave the meter valve to the gas company unless there is an emergency.
Do not use flexible connectors past their life. Corrugated metal connectors are not forever, and an old or kinked one can fail. Replace the connector when you replace the appliance.
Home systems that connect to gas
Tankless Water Heater Service
Descale, clear fault codes, repair or set up a tankless unit suited to Front Range altitude.
New Construction Plumbing
Rough-in and final plumbing for new houses, additions and basement build-outs.
Quick answers
What people ask about gas line
Exit right away, stay clear of flames and switches, and dial 911 or the gas utility once you are outside.
Gas connections should be done by a licensed professional. A small leak can be dangerous.
A plumber can calculate demand and compare it with the pipe size. Ask before adding a large appliance.
New gas piping typically needs a permit and inspection. The contractor can confirm what your town requires.
The gas odor comes first: get outside and ring 911 or the gas utility. After the supply is made safe, phone the plumbing line about fixing or replacing the damaged pipe.
There is no fixed schedule for a homeowner, but a check when you buy a house, add an appliance or notice a smell is sensible. A plumber can pressure-test the lines and inspect connections.
Need a gas line repaired or run?
If you smell gas, leave first. Otherwise call and describe the appliance. A dispatcher connects you with a local contractor.