The housing
Much of Sunny Hills was built out in the 1950s and 1960s as single-family tract homes, many of them single-story on slab-on-grade foundations, with some larger and later houses on the hillier streets. Lots are generous by Orange County standards, and mature trees line many of the streets and backyards.
Every house is different, and plenty have been remodeled. Treat what follows as a pattern to check against your own home rather than a description of it.
Sunny Hills at a glance
- Typical era
- Largely 1950s-1960s, with later homes and remodels
- Common foundation
- Slab-on-grade on many tract homes; check your own
- Gas utility
- SoCalGas
- Water and sewer mains
- City of Fullerton
- Permits
- City of Fullerton building division
What is often under and above a Sunny Hills house
| System | Common in older homes | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Gas piping | Black iron from the meter up an exterior wall and through the attic | Rust where pipe meets soil or the wall; loose threaded joints |
| Appliance hookups | Flexible connectors replaced several times | Old, reused or kinked connectors |
| Water lines | Copper or galvanized, depending on age and remodels | Corrosion and low pressure in galvanized |
| Sewer lateral | Cast iron or clay to the city main | Tree roots at joints in clay or cracked cast iron |
| Yard gas lines | Added later for barbecues and pool heaters | Unrecorded routes, bare metal pipe in soil |
Gas notes specific to this kind of house
On a slab-on-grade home the gas line rarely runs under the floor. It usually climbs the outside wall near the meter and travels through the attic, dropping down to the furnace, water heater, range and dryer. That makes most leaks reachable without breaking concrete, but attic work over a low-pitched roof can be slow.
Big backyards with pools mean many Sunny Hills homes have a pool heater, often the largest gas user on the property. Adding one, or an outdoor kitchen, to original-sized piping is a common reason for a sizing check. Mature trees matter twice here: their roots can crack clay sewer laterals and also stress buried yard gas lines.
A Sunny Hills homeowner's short list
Who to contact
- IfGas smell anywhereThenLeave, then call 911 or SoCalGas from outside.
- IfMeter or service line questionThenSoCalGas.
- IfHouse or yard gas piping repairThenA licensed contractor; check the license at cslb.ca.gov.
- IfPermit questionsThenCity of Fullerton building division.
- IfWater service or sewer main questionsThenCity of Fullerton.
Common questions
Is all of Sunny Hills on slab foundations?
No. Many tract homes are slab-on-grade, but hillside and later homes vary. Check your own house.
Who owns the sewer lateral?
Generally the property owner owns the lateral from the house to the city main. Check with the City of Fullerton for details at your address.
Does SoCalGas serve Sunny Hills?
Yes, SoCalGas is the gas utility for Fullerton.
General information for Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.