Gas line installation & repair in St. Paul, MN

If you smell gas, leave first

Natural gas has an added odor that smells like rotten eggs. If you smell it, leave the house right away on foot. Do not flip light switches, use a phone, start a car or do anything that could make a spark until you are well away from the smell.

Once you are outside and safe, call 911 and Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-2999. If another company supplies your gas, call the number on your gas bill. Do not try to find or fix the leak yourself, and do not go back inside until responders say it is safe.

New gas lines for appliances

Switching from an electric range or dryer to gas, adding a gas fireplace, or putting in a heater for the garage all need a gas line run from your existing piping. We also run lines to outdoor grills, fire tables and standby generators.

We check that your gas meter and piping can supply the new appliance along with the ones you already have. If the new appliance also needs power, such as a gas dryer, a standby generator or a garage heater, it may need a dedicated circuit, and our electricians can handle that part too.

Pressure testing, permits and inspection

Every new or repaired gas line is pressure tested before it is put into service. The test confirms the piping holds pressure with no leaks. We then light the appliance and check that it runs properly.

Gas piping in Minnesota must meet the Minnesota Fuel Gas Code, and new gas lines generally require a permit and inspection. Who issues the permit depends on your city. When a permit is required, we file the request and schedule the inspection.

Flexible gas piping and bonding

Many newer homes use corrugated stainless steel tubing, or CSST, a flexible gas line often with a yellow or black jacket. A nearby lightning strike can cause an electrical arc that damages CSST and lets gas escape.

The national fuel gas code, NFPA 54, and CSST manufacturers’ instructions call for CSST to be bonded to the home’s electrical grounding system to reduce that risk. If you have CSST and are not sure it is bonded, ask us to look during a visit.

Outdoor gas lines and digging

Gas lines to a grill, a detached garage or a generator often run underground. Before anyone digs in Minnesota, call 811 or contact Gopher State One Call at least two business days ahead so utilities can mark their lines.

Utilities do not mark customer-owned lines, such as an existing buried gas line to a grill or outbuilding. Those are the property owner’s to locate, often with a private locating company. If you have a gas appliance that will not stay lit, see our furnace repair page or call us.

Signs of a gas line problem

A rotten-egg smell near an appliance, the meter or outdoors
A hissing or whistling sound near a gas line or appliance
You want to add a gas range, dryer, fireplace, grill or generator
A garage or workshop that needs heat
A pilot light or burner that keeps going out
Flexible gas tubing that was damaged during a remodel

Common questions

What should I do if I smell gas?

Leave the house right away on foot without using switches, phones or anything that could spark. Once you are outside and away from the smell, call 911 and Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-2999. If another company supplies your gas, call the number on your gas bill. Do not go back inside until responders say it is safe.

Can I convert my electric range or dryer to gas?

Usually, yes. We run a new gas line to the appliance location, pressure test it and check that your piping can supply it. The appliance must be designed for natural gas or converted per its instructions.

Do I need to call 811 for a gas line to my grill?

Yes. Contact 811 or Gopher State One Call at least two business days before digging. Utilities will mark their lines, but customer-owned buried lines are not marked by them.

What is CSST and does it need bonding?

CSST is flexible stainless steel gas tubing. NFPA 54 and the manufacturers call for it to be bonded to the home’s electrical grounding system to reduce the risk of damage from nearby lightning.