Gas Line Services in San Bernardino, CA

Signs the gas piping needs a look

• A rotten-egg or sulfur odor. That smell is a reason to walk out, not to hunt for the source.
• A faint hiss near the meter, a valve or behind an appliance
• Stove burners that lift, flutter or burn lazy yellow instead of crisp blue
• Scorch marks or soot around a water heater or furnace draft hood
• A pilot light that will not stay lit on an appliance that used to be reliable
• A gas bill that jumps without any change in how the house is used

Only the odor means leaving right away. The others call for a scheduled visit before a small problem grows.

Gas work in San Bernardino homes

SoCalGas is the natural gas utility for the city. Much of the housing is older: in ZIP 92404 alone, about 72 percent of houses on record were built in 1979 or earlier. Homes of that age often carry black iron gas pipe that has been tapped, extended and capped several times as ranges, dryers and heaters moved around. A plumber working on one branch will usually look at those old joints, unused stubs and shutoff valves as well, because a stiff or corroded valve is a problem the day you actually need to close it.

Permits come from the City of San Bernardino Building & Safety Division, which requires them for plumbing and mechanical work. Minor jobs such as a water heater replacement are usually issued over the counter at the Permit Service Counter at 201 North E Street. New gas branches and appliance additions generally mean a permit, a pressure test and an inspection.

What affects the cost

• Distance from the meter to the appliance and how the line has to be routed
• Whether the existing pipe can carry another appliance or needs upsizing
• Access through attics, slab chases, garages or finished walls
• Pipe material, fittings and new shutoff valves
• Permit, test and inspection time

What happens when you call

The number on this page connects you with an independent plumber who takes gas piping jobs in San Bernardino. Describe the appliance involved, where it sits relative to the meter and roughly when the house was built. If the plumber thinks the work needs a permit, they will explain how the test and inspection are handled before any work starts.