How buried lines fail

Underground gas piping on the owner's side of the meter fails in two main ways. Steel pipe, especially older pipe whose coating has worn or was never complete, can corrode from the outside until it pits through. Any buried line can also be punctured or cracked by digging: a shovel during planting, a post-hole auger for a fence, or a trencher installing sprinklers.

On a Villa Park lot with long runs to a pool pad or backyard structure, a corrosion leak can develop slowly. Damage from digging usually announces itself right away with an odor or hissing.

Spot repair versus replacing the run

Spot repair

  • Single puncture from recent digging
  • Pipe on either side is sound when exposed
  • Short excavation at one location
  • Repaired section still pressure tested

Replace the run

  • Corrosion found at several points
  • Pipe is old steel with failed coating
  • Line is also undersized for current appliances
  • A new route avoids patios or structures built over the old one

Typical repair sequence

  1. Make safe.The utility responds to any active odor; gas is shut off to the affected section.
  2. Locate.The plumber isolates and pressure tests sections, and may probe the soil to narrow the leak location.
  3. Mark utilities.Other buried lines are marked through 811 before excavation.
  4. Expose and evaluate.The leak is uncovered and the surrounding pipe is inspected to decide between repair and replacement.
  5. Repair or replace.Damaged pipe is replaced with material approved for burial, with transition fittings and tracer wire as needed.
  6. Test, inspect, backfill.The line is pressure tested and inspected where required before the trench is closed and gas restored.

What drives the cost

  • How long it takes to locate the leak
  • Depth and length of excavation
  • Whether concrete, pavers, decking or mature landscaping sits over the line
  • Repair versus full replacement of the run
  • Pipe size needed if the line is being upsized at the same time
  • Permit, inspection and restoration of surfaces

Which way to go

  • IfOne recent puncture, otherwise healthy pipeThenA spot repair and pressure test is usually reasonable.
  • IfExposed pipe shows heavy rust and pittingThenAsk for a quote to replace the run; more leaks are likely nearby.
  • IfA patio or addition now sits over the old lineThenAsk about abandoning the old line and running a new route.
  • IfYou plan a bigger pool heater or outdoor kitchen soonThenCombine the repair with an upsized replacement.

Questions to ask

  1. What condition is the pipe in on either side of the leak?
  2. Would replacing the run save money over repeated repairs?
  3. What material will you use underground, and will there be a tracer wire?
  4. Who restores the lawn, hardscape or planters afterward?
  5. Will the trench stay open for an inspection?

Common questions

Who repairs a line damaged between the meter and the house?

That piping is the owner's, so a licensed plumber hired by the owner repairs it. Leaks at or before the meter are SoCalGas's.

Can a buried gas line be repaired without digging?

Most buried repairs require exposing the pipe. Some replacements can use boring to reduce surface damage; ask the plumber.

What happens to an abandoned old line?

It is disconnected and capped so it cannot carry gas. Ask how the plumber handles abandoned sections.

General information for Villa Park, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.