A gas line problem isn’t like a slow drain — it doesn’t wait for a convenient time, and it isn’t something to guess at. Silverback Plumbing & Drain installs, repairs, and replaces gas lines for San Antonio homes, from a single corroded fitting under the kitchen to a full new line run for a fireplace, generator, or outdoor kitchen.
If you smell gas right now, stop reading and act:
- Leave the house immediately — don’t stop to open windows or search for the source
- Don’t flip light switches, use phones inside, or start your car in an attached garage
- From a safe distance, call CPS Energy’s 24/7 emergency line at (210) 353-4357 or 911
- Once it’s confirmed safe, call us to find and fix the underlying problem
This isn’t overly cautious — it’s exactly what the CPS Energy natural gas safety guidance tells San Antonio residents to do, and it’s the right call every time.
Common Gas Line Problems We Fix
Most calls we get fall into a handful of categories:Suspected Gas Leak
A sulfur or rotten-egg smell, hissing near a pipe, or dead patches of grass over a buried line.
Appliance Won’t Ignite
A stove, water heater, or furnace that won’t light, or a pilot that keeps going out.
Low Gas Pressure
Appliances running weak, taking longer to heat, or struggling to maintain a flame.
Corroded or Aging Pipe
Older black iron or steel lines that have rusted through or no longer meet code.
Damage From Digging
A line nicked or severed during landscaping, fencing, or yard construction.
New Line Needed
Adding a gas fireplace, outdoor grill, generator, or upgrading an electric appliance to gas.
Gas Line Services We Provide
| Service | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Leak detection & repair | Locating and sealing leaks at fittings, joints, or pipe walls |
| New line installation | Running new gas supply for an appliance, fireplace, or addition |
| Line replacement | Replacing corroded, undersized, or out-of-code piping |
| Appliance connections | Hooking up water heaters, ranges, dryers, and fireplaces to existing lines |
| Code compliance inspection | Checking existing lines against current fuel gas code before a sale, renovation, or appliance swap |
How Deep Are Gas Lines Buried in San Antonio?
The International Fuel Gas Code sets a 12-inch minimum burial depth for gas piping on private property, increasing to 18 inches under driveways, parking areas, and anywhere vehicle weight could compress the soil above the pipe. In practice, we often install deeper than the code minimum here, because San Antonio’s expansive clay soil shifts noticeably between wet and dry seasons — shallow lines are more exposed to that movement over time than lines set with extra margin. Before any digging on your property, including your own landscaping projects, call 811 first; the CPS Energy call-before-you-dig program marks buried utility lines for free so you don’t accidentally strike one.What Happens If a Gas Line Problem Goes Ignored
A small gas line issue doesn’t stay small. A pinhole leak at a fitting can widen as the pipe continues to corrode, and a line that’s slowly losing pressure puts more strain on every appliance connected to it shortening their lifespan and, in the case of a water heater or furnace, raising the risk of incomplete combustion. Left unaddressed long enough, a leak in an enclosed space becomes a fire and explosion hazard, which is exactly why we treat any suspected leak as same-day, not next-available-appointment, work.
Signs Your Gas Line Needs a Professional Look
| What You’re Noticing | What It Usually Means |
|---|---|
| Rotten-egg or sulfur smell indoors or in the yard | A gas leak — treat as urgent every time |
| Hissing sound near a pipe or appliance connection | Gas escaping under pressure at a fitting or crack |
| A patch of dead, discolored grass over a buried line | Possible underground leak affecting root systems |
| Pilot lights that won’t stay lit | Low gas pressure or a partially blocked line |
| Higher gas bills with no change in usage | A slow leak or an inefficient older appliance connection |
New Installation vs. Repair vs. Replacement
Not every gas line issue calls for the same fix:
| Situation | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Adding a new gas appliance or fixture | New line installation, sized for that appliance’s demand |
| One leak or damaged section on an otherwise sound line | Targeted repair |
| Older black iron piping showing rust or scale | Replacement of the affected run |
| Line fails a code compliance inspection | Replacement to current fuel gas code |
| Multiple recurring leaks across the system | Full replacement rather than repeated patch repairs |
Gas line work connects directly to appliances like your water heater and gas fireplace — if either of those is acting up at the same time as a suspected line issue, mention it when you call so we can check the whole system in one visit instead of two.
What to Expect During a Gas Line Service Call
We pressure-test the line to locate any leak precisely
We explain what we found and what it’ll take to fix it
We complete the repair, replacement, or new installation
We re-test the system before we consider the job done
Most repairs and appliance connections are finished same-day. New line installations or full replacements may take longer depending on the run length and whether drywall, flooring, or yard work is involved — we’ll tell you which applies before we start.
When This Is an Emergency
Any active gas smell, hissing sound, or suspected leak is an emergency — full stop, regardless of the time of day. If you’re instead dealing with an appliance that simply won’t light and there’s no gas odor, that’s still worth a same-day call but isn’t the leave-the-house situation described above. If you’re also dealing with flooding, a burst pipe, or no water alongside a gas concern, our 24/7 emergency plumbing line covers both at once.
Five-Star Reviews From San Antonio Homeowners
We don’t ask for five stars, we earn them by showing up, fixing it right, and telling you the cost before we start.
Here’s what real customers across San Antonio have to say.
Frequently Asked Questions
Natural gas is naturally odorless, so utilities add a chemical called mercaptan that smells like sulfur or rotten eggs specifically so leaks are noticeable. If you smell that anywhere in or around your home, treat it as a leak and leave immediately.
No. There’s no “safe” amount of gas odor to wait out. Leave the house, avoid anything that could create a spark, and call CPS Energy’s emergency line or 911 from a safe distance before calling us.
Code sets a 12-inch minimum on private property and 18 inches under driveways or areas vehicles cross. We often install deeper here because San Antonio’s clay soil shifts seasonally, and a little extra depth holds up better over time than the bare minimum.
No. Gas line work in Texas requires a licensed plumber, and for good reason — an improperly sealed fitting or undersized line isn’t something you find out about until it’s already a hazard. Permits and inspections also apply to most gas line work.
Cost depends on whether it’s a single fitting repair, a longer section replacement, or a new line installation, plus how accessible the line is. We diagnose the specific issue first and give you a clear price before any work begins.
Yes. We size and run new gas lines for outdoor appliances, fire features, and standby generators, including the permitting and inspection that goes with adding a new line to your system.
Smell gas, see a hissing pipe, or just need a line installed right? Don't wait on this one.
Silverback Plumbing & Drain provides licensed plumbing and drain service for homes and businesses throughout the San Antonio area. From emergency repairs to routine maintenance, we diagnose the problem, explain the fix, and get it done right the first time.
Contact Info
Open Hours
- Open 24/7
Emergency service available nights, weekends, and holidays.
Proud Member of the Dynasty Trades Alliance.
Copyright © 2026 Silverback Plumbing and Drain
Mark Vargas, Responsible Master Plumber #43333 Licensed through the Texas Board of Plumbing Examiners P.O. Box 4200, Austin, Texas 78765 (800-845-6584)