Gas line work: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering gas line work

Gas line work is high-liability work, and the customer is trusting you with a system that can kill. Size the line, test it under pressure, and confirm the permit before you open a fitting.

What customers ask

  • Can you add a gas line to my new range?
  • Is my existing line big enough?
  • Why does the flame look yellow?
  • Do I need a permit for this?
  • How long before I can use the appliance?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask the appliance types and their ratings if known, the meter location, the line size if known, and whether there is any gas smell now.
  • Bring pipe, fittings, a sediment trap, shutoff valves, a pressure test gauge, a manometer, an approved leak detector, and the permit documents to the first visit.
  • Size the line for the total load and show the sizing to the customer before any pipe is cut.
  • Pressure test the new line before the gas is turned on, and record the test result and the gauge reading.
  • Quote the line, the valves, the connectors, the permit and the inspection as separate lines.
  • Turn the gas on, light each appliance, check the flame, and leave the customer with a written record of the test and the inspection.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of a gas line install with the shutoff valve and sediment trap visible, before the walls close
  • List the gas work you are licensed to do, and the appliances you connect
  • Note your permit and inspection process, so the customer knows the steps
  • Show a sample pressure test record with the gauge reading and date

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a yearly check of the appliance connections and the shutoff valves
  • Recommend a carbon monoxide detector check after the new appliance is in use
  • Suggest a full line check when the house is older and the line may be undersized for future appliances

Licenses and permits

Gas line work is commonly licensed work, and many areas require a permit and inspection for a new or changed gas line. Confirm the exact requirements with your state or local licensing agency and the local building department before you take the job.

Questions

What do I say when the customer wants the gas line run without a permit?

Explain that the permit and inspection are part of the work, and that the line is not complete until it is inspected. Do not connect the line without the permit.

How do I handle a line that is undersized for the new appliance?

Show the sizing and the upgrade route, and quote the upgrade as its own line. Do not connect a new appliance to an undersized line.

What do I do if I find a leak in the existing line?

Shut the gas off at the appliance or the meter, make the line safe, and explain the repair. Do not turn the gas back on until the leak is repaired and tested.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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