Water Heater Installation & Replacement
Replace a failed tank heater and choose the right size, fuel and location.
Gas, backflow and commercial
Gas Line Installation and Repair in St. Petersburg
Gas piping is not a do-it-yourself job. A new line for a stove, dryer, grill or fireplace needs the right pipe, the right size, a pressure test and an inspection.
If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 or the gas utility first.
If you smell gas
- Leave the buildingDo not use switches, phones or flames inside.
- Call from outsidePhone 911 or the gas utility from a safe distance.
- Do not go back inWait for the utility to say it is safe.
Gas smells and safety
Natural gas has no smell of its own. The utility adds a sulfur-like odor so leaks can be noticed. If you smell it, do not turn lights on or off, do not use a phone inside and do not light anything. Get everyone out and call from a distance.
A plumber cannot work on a leak until the utility has shut off the gas and made it safe. After that, the line needs testing and repair before service is restored.
New gas lines
Running a gas line to a new appliance means choosing the pipe, sizing it and routing it safely. Black iron pipe, corrugated stainless steel tubing and some types of coated copper are used, depending on the code and the application. The size depends on the length of the run and the total gas demand.
Appliances such as a range, dryer, water heater, outdoor grill, fire pit, pool heater and generator all add load. A plumber calculates the total so each appliance gets enough gas.
In St. Pete
Hurricanes, generators and outdoor kitchens
In a storm-prone region, many people add a gas generator or a gas grill. A gas line to an outdoor kitchen or a pool heater needs to be buried or protected and sized for the load.
After a hurricane, check gas appliances and lines for damage. If a house floods or a tree falls on the meter, call the gas utility before using any gas appliance.
Cost
What affects the price of gas line work
Gas line work is priced by length and complexity, and by the permit.
Ask the contractor what pressure test is done and who handles the inspection.
Repairs and testing
Leaks usually occur at joints, fittings and flexible connectors. A plumber finds them with a leak detection solution that bubbles at the leak or with an electronic sniffer, then repairs or replaces the part. After the work, the line is pressure tested to confirm there are no leaks.
Appliance connectors age and crack. An old flexible connector behind a dryer or range is worth replacing, and every appliance should have its own shutoff valve.
Permits, inspection and a licensed contractor
Gas work generally requires a permit and an inspection, and a licensed contractor should do it. The inspector checks the pipe, the joints, the shutoffs and the pressure test before the line is put into service.
Ask for the contractor's license number and look it up. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board both offer public lookups.
Appliances and conversions
Switching from electric to gas, such as a range, dryer or water heater, needs a new gas line, a vent where the appliance requires one and a compatible appliance. Some appliances can be converted between natural gas and propane with a kit, and others cannot.
Gas appliances that burn fuel need fresh air and a way to vent the exhaust. A plumber checks that the space is suitable before the line goes in, and carbon monoxide alarms near gas appliances are a sensible addition.
Stoves, dryers and fireplace inserts
A new range or dryer usually needs a shutoff valve and a flexible connector. A gas fireplace insert needs a line sized for the load. Each hookup needs a pressure test and, in many areas, a permit and inspection.
Tell the contractor the appliance make, its location and how far it is from the nearest gas line. That helps them plan the run and the materials.
Related services
Commercial Plumbing
Plumbing service for shops, offices, multi-unit buildings and shopping plazas.
New Construction Plumbing
Rough-in and finish plumbing for new homes and additions.
Common questions
Gas line questions
Leave the building right away, do not use switches or flames, and call 911 or the gas utility from outside.
It is not a good idea. Gas work needs the right materials, sizing, testing and, in most places, a licensed contractor and a permit.
A pressure test after installation and a passed inspection confirm it.
If you want a natural gas generator, yes. A plumber can size the line for the generator's demand.
Yes, this is a common job. It needs the right connector, a shutoff and a leak check.
Often yes, if the existing supply can handle the load. The contractor sizes the line and tests it.
Need gas piping installed or repaired?
If you smell gas, leave first. Otherwise, call and describe the job.