The dig-in
Illustrative example. Not a real job or customer.
An owner in a Fullerton home with a built-in barbecue is digging a new planter bed along the back fence. A previous owner ran the gas line to the barbecue years ago and left no record of the route. The shovel strikes something, and there is a sharp hissing sound and a strong smell of gas.
- The owner drops the shovel, walks away from the hole and calls everyone out of the backyard and the house.
- From the front sidewalk, the owner calls 911 and SoCalGas.
- Responders shut off gas to the house at the meter and keep people away until the gas has dispersed.
- The yard line is left shut off with a notice that it must be repaired by the owner's contractor.
No one is hurt. The house is without gas until the yard line is isolated or repaired and service is restored.
Why 811 would not have marked this line
Calling 811 before digging gets utility-owned lines marked, such as the gas service from the street to the meter. The line to the barbecue was private piping installed after the meter, so it belonged to the owner and would not normally be marked by the utility. Private lines need to be located another way, from records, tracer wire or a locating service.
That is why outdoor gas lines should be photographed before the trench is filled and the route kept with the house records.
The repair
- Isolate.The contractor isolated the yard branch so gas could be restored to the house while the yard line stayed off.
- Expose.The damaged section was dug out by hand and the pipe condition on either side checked.
- Decide.The old line was bare metal with corrosion, so the owner chose to replace the run with buried plastic gas pipe and tracer wire rather than patch it.
- Permit and test.The new run was permitted, pressure tested and inspected before backfill.
- Record.The route was photographed and sketched, and a shutoff was added where the yard line leaves the house.
How to avoid it
Common questions
Is this a real event?
No. It is an invented example to explain the steps.
Should you try to plug the hole?
No. Walk away from the leak, get everyone clear, and call 911 and SoCalGas from a safe distance.
Who pays for a private yard line repair?
Private piping after the meter is the owner's responsibility.
General information for Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.