Aurora CO Plumbers Den
Gas smell: what happens next
Once everyone is out and the emergency has been reported, the gas utility checks the meter and the service line. If the leak is in the pipe inside the house, the utility may shut off service until a licensed plumber repairs it. The dispatch line routes the repair call to a plumber in our network at any hour.
Tell the dispatcher what the utility said, where the smell was strongest and which appliances are near it. Do not relight pilots or restore service yourself.
Black iron, CSST and the pipe that carries the gas
| Pipe type | What it is | What a plumber looks at |
|---|---|---|
| Black iron | Threaded steel pipe used for rigid runs | Joint leaks, corrosion, supports and pipe doping |
| CSST | Flexible corrugated stainless tubing | Bonding, protection where it passes through framing, fitting condition |
| Copper or brass | Older flexible connectors and some runs | Wear, cracking, and whether the type is permitted for the application |
| Appliance connector | The flexible short line to a range, dryer or heater | Age, kinks and the shutoff valve behind it |
Replacement of a corroded section of black iron means cutting out the damaged pipe, threading new pipe and testing the joints. A repaired section is pressure tested before the gas is turned back on. CSST needs correct bonding and protection, and the plumber checks both whenever a line is touched.
Gas line work needed after the emergency is cleared? Call now.
Call (303) 567-7524Adding or moving a gas line: what to plan
New gas lines serve a range, a dryer, a fireplace, a grill or a generator. Before the plumber quotes, count the appliances, note how far each is from the meter and write down each one’s load. A line has to carry the total load at once, not each appliance alone, and a longer run needs larger pipe.
- List every gas appliance and where it sits.
- Find the meter and the regulator, and note the route from there.
- Ask the plumber to size the line for the combined load.
- Ask who applies for the permit and when the inspection is.
- Confirm 811 locates before any trench for an outdoor line.
Before any trench for an outdoor line, 811 has to be called. That service marks public utilities only; a private line needs a private locator (Colorado 811).
Permits, inspections and who may do the work
Gas piping is regulated work, and a plumber working on it should explain which permit applies. The City’s permit office is at 303-739-7420 (Aurora permit office). Ask the plumber who applies for the permit and when the inspector comes, and request license details before work starts. The City lookup lists credentials on file.
The gas utility generally handles the line up to and including the meter. Piping beyond it is the owner’s, so call the utility when the question concerns the meter or the service line.
Pressure testing and inspection
A pressure test holds the piping at a set pressure for a period and watches the gauge. A drop means a leak somewhere in the tested section. A plumber tests after any repair or new line, and before an appliance is connected. If you have not had your gas piping checked in a long time, or the house is older, a test and a visual inspection are reasonable even without a smell.
Propane and conversions
Propane systems use different pressures and appliance orifices than natural gas, so an appliance has to be built or kit-converted for the fuel. A conversion is a plumber’s or appliance technician’s job, not a weekend one. Propane tank lines and regulators are part of the same discussion.
Also covered: appliance hookups and emergency calls
Hooking up a range, a dryer, a fireplace, a grill or a generator, and replacing connectors and shutoff valves, all fall under one call. For a repair that cannot wait, the dispatch line answers at any hour.
Gas heating repair on a furnace or boiler is HVAC work, but the gas line to the appliance is a plumbing job. The signs of a gas leak include a rotten-egg smell, a hissing sound near a pipe and dead plants near a buried line; any of them means leaving the house first.
Gas line questions
Do I need a permit to move a gas line?
Moving or extending gas piping is new work, and the plumber should name the permit that applies before starting. Ask who applies for it and when the inspection is.
The City Permit Center, 303-739-7420, confirms what Aurora requires for your address.
Who runs gas lines in a house?
Imagine a house with a gas range that needs a second line for a new dryer. A licensed plumber runs the piping from the meter or an existing tee to the appliance, tests it and arranges the inspection.
The gas utility handles its side of the meter, so call it for anything at or before the meter.
Who installs gas lines, step by step?
1. A plumber sizes the line for the combined appliance load. 2. The permit is applied for. 3. The pipe is run and supported. 4. The system is pressure tested. 5. The inspection happens and the gas is turned on.
Ask for each step in the written scope.
How do I hook up a gas stove, and can I convert from natural gas to propane?
Picture a new range delivered the day before. The plumber connects it with a flexible connector and a shutoff valve and checks for leaks with a gauge or leak solution.
Converting an appliance to propane needs a kit or a unit built for propane, and the regulator and pressure must match. Do not attempt the conversion yourself.