Gas Line Plumber in Houston

Gas work is the part of plumbing where "close enough" doesn't exist. Every gas line we touch — a new run to a standby generator, a repair on aging black iron, a pool heater or outdoor kitchen hookup — is sized by a master plumber, pressure-tested before gas flows, and inspected by the City of Houston when a permit applies. That's not us being fussy. That's the only way this work should ever be done.

Smell gas right now? Do this first

Before anything else: if you smell gas in your home, leave. Don't flip light switches, don't unplug anything, don't start your car in an attached garage. From outside the house, call CenterPoint Energy's emergency line or 911, then call us at (832) 520-2623. CenterPoint will make the scene safe and shut off the meter; we handle the repair, the pressure test, and the city paperwork to get your gas legally restored.

Signs worth taking seriously even when they're subtle:

• The rotten-egg smell — natural gas is odorless; that sulfur smell is added specifically so you'll notice it
• Hissing near a meter, appliance connection, or wall
• A patch of dead grass over a buried line when the rest of the yard is healthy
• A gas bill that climbed with no change in usage

What we build, repair, and test

Houston's finer homes keep asking more of their gas systems. A house that was piped for a furnace, a water heater, and a cooktop in 1965 is now expected to also feed a standby generator, a pool heater, a six-burner range, and an outdoor kitchen. The original line usually can't carry all of it — undersized gas piping shows up as appliances that starve each other, burners that won't hit temperature, and generators that stumble under load.

• Standby generator connections — sized for the generator's full-load demand, not just its idle draw, with CenterPoint meter upgrades coordinated when needed
• Outdoor kitchens and fire features — new permitted runs, pressure-tested and city-inspected
• Pool and spa heaters — high-BTU appliances that almost always need a dedicated line
• Appliance relocations — moving a range or dryer during a remodel
• Leak repair and repiping — replacing corroded black iron and failed fittings in older homes
• System pressure testing — the definitive answer on whether your existing piping is sound

What does gas line installation involve in Houston?

A legitimate gas job in this city follows a sequence, and every step exists for a reason. Here's what the process actually looks like — and roughly how long each kind of project takes once the permit is in hand.

On cost: gas work is priced by run length, pipe size, trenching conditions, and permit scope, so honest numbers come after a site visit — but as market context, simple appliance hookups in Houston generally land in the several-hundred-to-low-four-figure range, while generator connections and whole-house repipes run higher. Whatever the project, you get a fixed written price before work begins. It doesn't drift.

Why the license matters more here than anywhere

Most plumbing mistakes cost you water. Gas mistakes are a different category. Texas restricts gas piping to licensed plumbers because sizing math, joint makeup, and testing procedure aren't things to learn on your house. Every gas job we deliver is run under our master plumber's license, pressure-tested to hold before the meter opens, and — where the code requires it — signed off by a City of Houston inspector. You're welcome to verify our license with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners; the number is at the bottom of this page.

If a bid for gas work arrives without a permit, without a pressure test, or without a license number on the paperwork, it isn't a lower price for the same job. It's a different job — and not one you want under your home.

Gas line FAQ

Can a handyman run a gas line in Texas?

No. Texas law requires gas piping work to be performed under a licensed plumber, and for good reason — an improperly sized, joined, or tested gas line is a genuine hazard. Every gas job we do is run by a master plumber, pressure-tested before the meter is turned back on, and inspected by the City of Houston where a permit applies.

Do I need a permit for a new gas line in Houston?

Almost always, yes. New gas runs — for a generator, pool heater, outdoor kitchen, or relocated appliance — require a City of Houston plumbing permit and a city inspection. We pull the permit, schedule the inspection, and coordinate with CenterPoint when the meter needs to be upsized or unlocked. You don't handle any of the paperwork.

How long does a standby generator gas hookup take?

Most residential generator connections take one to two days of on-site work: trenching and running the new line, setting the connection, pressure testing, and the city inspection. The calendar time depends mostly on permit and inspection scheduling, which we manage. If your meter needs a capacity upgrade from CenterPoint, that adds lead time — we flag it at the quote stage.

Can you test my existing gas lines for leaks?

Yes. We isolate the system and pressure-test it, then trace any drop to its source with electronic leak detection. It's the same test the city requires after a leak repair, and it's the definitive answer — no guessing based on smell alone. If you smell gas right now, don't wait for a test: leave the house and call from outside.