Gas Leak Detection in San Diego
If you smell gas or SDG&E has red-tagged your meter, you need a licensed plumber the same day. We use combustible gas detectors and a code-mandated pressure decay test to find every leak on the system, repair it, and coordinate the re-cert with SDG&E so your service turns back on.
What this actually is
A red tag means SDG&E has locked your meter because their technician found a leak or an unsafe condition somewhere on your side of the meter. Nothing gas-powered in your house will work until a licensed plumber repairs the system and it passes a pressure test in front of an SDG&E inspector.
Gas leak work is not like water leak work. There is no acoustic listening on gas. The two methods that actually work are a calibrated combustible gas detector walked along every joint, and a code-required pressure decay test that proves the whole system is tight before the meter turns back on.
Gas Leak Detection
- Combustible gas detector sweep
A calibrated CGI (combustible gas indicator) walked along every accessible union, tee, appliance connector, and drop leg to locate active leaks in ppm.
- Code-required pressure decay test
We isolate the house from the meter, charge the piping to test pressure with air, and read the gauge over the code-required hold time to prove the system is tight.
- Full repair of failed joints and lines
Corroded black iron, backed-out unions, failing appliance connectors, and cracked CSST fittings are cut out and replaced with new pipe dope and thread sealant rated for gas.
- SDG&E re-cert coordination
Once the system holds pressure, we schedule the SDG&E re-inspection, meet the inspector on site, and pull the permit for the fix if the repair requires one.
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Our process, step by step
- 1Safety and shutoff verification
Confirm the main gas valve at the meter is closed, ventilate the area, and clear any ignition sources before opening the system.
- 2Pressure test the entire system
Cap all appliance drops, pressurize the piping with air to the code-required test pressure, and read the gauge over the hold period. Any drop means an active leak.
- 3Sniff each joint with a CGI meter
Walk the pressurized system with a combustible gas detector to identify every leak location in parts per million, from meter to farthest drop.
- 4Repair, replace, and re-test
Failed joints and lines are cut out and rebuilt. We pressure-test the repair, then the whole system again, to confirm it holds before calling SDG&E.
- 5SDG&E re-cert and appliance relight
Meet the SDG&E tech on site for the reinstatement inspection. Once they turn the meter back on, we relight and safety-check each appliance.
San Diego gas leak calls cluster around three failure modes tied to local housing. Pre-1970 homes in Kensington, North Park, Golden Hill, and Mission Hills have original black iron threaded joints under kitchens and behind wall heaters that back off with age and slight foundation settlement. Coastal air in La Jolla, Point Loma, Coronado, and Pacific Beach corrodes exterior gas risers at the meter set within 15 to 20 years. Post-2000 tract homes in Chula Vista, Otay Ranch, and Santee use CSST (yellow flex line) that fails at the fittings if a homeowner or handyman disturbs it during a remodel. SDG&E red tags any of these on sight, and only a licensed plumber can clear the system for reinstatement.
What homeowners actually notice
If any of these match what you're seeing at home, it's worth a call before it gets worse.
- Sulfur or rotten-egg smell anywhere in the house or garage
- SDG&E red tag on the meter or a locked-off gas valve
- Gas bill jumped significantly with no change in usage
- Hissing sound near an appliance connector, water heater, or furnace
- Pilot light won't stay lit on a range, wall heater, or water heater
- Dead or yellowing plants in a line above a buried gas run in the yard
What this typically costs
A gas leak diagnostic with CGI meter and pressure decay test in San Diego is typically $350 to $500. Straightforward repairs, single failed union or appliance connector, add $150 to $400. Full re-runs of corroded black iron or CSST are quoted per foot after we see the run. The permit fee and SDG&E re-cert coordination are included when the repair requires them.
Common questions
What should I do right now if I smell gas?+
Leave the house. Don't switch anything on or off, don't use a phone inside, don't run appliances. Once outside, call SDG&E at 800-411-7343 or 911 for a strong odor, then call us to handle the repair and re-cert.
How is a gas leak found if you can't hear it or see it?+
Two ways. A pressure decay test on the isolated piping proves whether the whole system leaks. A calibrated combustible gas indicator walked along every joint shows exactly where in parts per million.
How do I get my gas turned back on after a red tag?+
The house has to pass a pressure test at the code-required test pressure with an SDG&E inspector present. Once we repair, retest, and meet the inspector on site, they release the meter.
Do you pull a permit for a gas repair?+
Yes, any time the repair replaces a section of piping or extends a run. Straight joint tightening or single appliance connector swaps often don't require one, but the pressure test still does before reinstatement.
Is CSST (yellow flex gas line) safe?+
Yes when installed and bonded correctly. Most failures we see are from remodels where CSST was kinked or fittings were reused. We replace failed sections with new CSST and verify the bonding to the electrical ground.
How long does the whole gas repair and re-cert process take?+
Straightforward jobs finish same day: locate, repair, retest, SDG&E on site, and appliances relit. Bigger repairs (full re-runs, hidden in-wall leaks) are typically 1 to 2 days start to finish.
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