Water Heater Installation & Replacement
Pull a worn-out tank and select the proper capacity, fuel and exhaust.
Gas, backflow and commercial ยท Lafayette, CO
Emergency Gas Line Repair and Installation in Lafayette
Gas piping brings fuel to a range, a dryer, a fireplace, a grill or a generator. Done right, it is invisible. Done wrong, it is a safety risk, which is why gas work is permitted, tested and inspected. Detect gas? Exit the building first and contact 911 or the gas company from outside.
Gas odor present? Leave the building, then once outdoors dial 911 or your gas company.
If you smell gas
- Get everyone outDo not stop to open windows or pack.
- Leave switches and flames aloneDo not use a light switch, phone or lighter inside.
- Call from outside911 or the gas utility first, then a plumber.
What a gas job involves
A new gas line starts at a branch off the main piping, runs to an appliance and ends in a shutoff valve and a connector. Pipe size is chosen from the combined appliance load on the run, its length and the pressure supplied.
Common materials are black iron pipe, corrugated stainless tubing and, outdoors and underground, coated steel or polyethylene. The inspector looks at the joints, the supports and the shutoff before the line is put in service.
Pressure tests and leak checks
After the pipe is in, the plumber runs a pressure test: the line is filled with air and a gauge is watched for a drop. A line that holds is ready for inspection. A gauge that falls points to a leak.
Soap solution on a joint shows bubbles at a small leak. Electronic detectors read tiny amounts of gas in the air. Neither is a job for a homeowner to improvise, because a missed leak can be serious.
Cost
What affects gas line cost
Gas jobs are priced by the length of the run and the work to reach it.
Ask whether the price covers the permit, the pressure test and the inspection.
In Lafayette
Altitude and permits in Lafayette
Appliances are rated for altitude, and Lafayette sits at about 5,266 feet. Gas appliances may need an orifice change or an adjustment for the elevation, so follow the maker's instructions for homes above the rated height.
The City of Lafayette Building Division adopted the 2024 I-Codes, including the Fuel Gas Code. Gas jobs usually require a permit and an inspection, and the contractor can say who applies.
Appliance hookups
A range, a dryer or a water heater needs the right connector and a shutoff valve within reach. A flexible connector must be approved for the appliance and not run through a wall.
Moving a range to a new spot, adding a gas dryer or setting up a fire pit all start with an inspection of the existing line to see if it can carry the added load.
Outdoor gas: grills, fire pits and generators
An outdoor line to a grill or fire pit runs underground in protected pipe. A generator needs a larger line and a pressure check, since a whole-house unit uses a lot of gas.
The gas utility may need to set a bigger meter for a generator. Ask the plumber and the utility about it before the purchase.
Neighboring home systems
Tankless Water Heater Service
Descale a tankless unit, clear its error codes or replace it with a new one.
New Construction Plumbing
Rough in and finish the plumbing for a new house, finished basement or addition.
Common questions
Answers on Gas line
Gas work requires skill and usually a permit. A mistake can be dangerous, so use a qualified contractor.
Evacuate, then reach 911 or the gas utility from a safe distance. Bring in a plumber once the supply is secure.
Often yes, if the existing system can carry the load.
Yes. Inspectors expect it before the line goes into service.
Safety comes first. Walk out, touch no switches or flames and call 911 or the utility from a safe distance. Once the gas is shut off safely, call us about mending the damaged pipe.
Need gas work done?
Call the 24/7 line for a repair or a new run. Smelling gas at this moment? Leave and dial 911 first.