Gas Line Installation & Repair in Columbia, SC
Running gas to a range, dryer, grill or generator means pipe sizing, leak testing and permits. A rotten-egg smell is a different matter and calls for leaving the house first.
- Appliance hookups
- Leak testing
- Code-compliant installs
If you smell gas: do this first
Smelling gas is a safety event first and a repair question second.
- Leave the building. Take everyone and the pets. Do not switch on lights or use a phone inside.
- Call 911 from outside. Fire crews are trained for gas leaks.
- Call your gas provider. Dominion Energy South Carolina takes gas leak calls at 800-815-0083. If another provider serves you, use the number on your bill.
- Do not return until cleared. Wait for crews to say it is safe.
Common gas jobs
These are the projects we are most often asked about.
| Project | What is involved | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Range or oven hookup | Shutoff, flex connector, leak test | Check the regulator and clearances |
| Dryer | Dedicated line and shutoff | Venting is separate |
| Outdoor grill or fire pit | Buried or exposed line to the patio | Locate utilities with 811 first |
| Generator | High-capacity line from the meter | Sizing and permit |
| Tankless upgrade | Larger line to meet the input rating | See our tankless page |
A tankless unit often needs more gas than the tank it replaced, which is why tankless water heater service starts with line size.
Adding a gas appliance?
Call with the appliance and its location. We will plan the line and the permit.
How a gas line is installed
Pipe size comes from the total load of all appliances and the length of the run. Black iron, flexible stainless tubing and approved flex connectors each have rules. Corrugated stainless tubing must be bonded to the building's electrical grounding system under the National Electrical Code (NEC), so this is a job where plumbing and electrical rules meet.
South Carolina adopts the International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) with state modifications. Before the line is concealed or put in service, it is pressure tested. A soap solution or electronic leak detector checks every joint.
Who owns what, and why it matters
The gas utility typically owns the line up to and including the meter. The homeowner owns the piping beyond it. The utility does not repair house piping, and a plumber does not touch the meter. That boundary decides who to call.
Permits and inspections are common for new gas lines. Your building department sets the rules, and an inspection protects you at resale.
Newer homes versus older ones
Newer homes in places like Lexington have gas stubs in the walls for common appliances, so most work is connection and testing. Older homes in West Columbia or Cayce may have aging black iron that corrodes at joints, and an inspection before adding a load is wise.
Shutoffs, flex connectors and carbon monoxide
Every gas appliance should have its own shutoff valve within reach. Old connectors can corrode or crack, and a newer corrugated stainless connector should replace them. A carbon monoxide detector on each level is a separate safety layer, because a gas appliance that vents poorly makes carbon monoxide without any smell of gas.
Pressure testing and what the inspector looks for
Before a new line is covered or put in service, it is pressure tested with air or an inert gas and the gauge is watched for a drop. The National Fuel Gas Code (NFPA 54) and the International Fuel Gas Code cover the same ground, and South Carolina adopts the latter. Inspectors look at pipe size, supports, shutoff placement, sediment traps and the way flexible connectors are used. Keep the permit paperwork with your house records.
If you smell gas after the work is done, the same safety steps apply. Leave, call 911 and call your gas provider. Do not try to find the leak yourself.
Gas permits, the utility and the county
Dominion Energy South Carolina owns the line to the meter and takes leak calls at 800-815-0083. Everything beyond the meter is yours, and new lines usually need a permit from the city or county building office in Richland or Lexington County. Outdoor grill and generator hookups follow the same permit path, whether the patio is near the Congaree Riverwalk or the deck is on Lake Murray.
Gas lines in older houses and around the lake
Dominion Energy South Carolina serves gas to many Midlands homes, but some houses around Lake Murray and Chapin use propane tanks, which changes the regulator and the piping. Tell us which fuel you have before we quote.
In older Shandon and Elmwood Park houses, a gas range or heater may still run on aging black iron with dated shutoffs. A pressure test and new shutoff valves are the common upgrades.
What changes the price of gas line work
Gas jobs are priced by distance, size and complexity.
Insurance does not pay to add or upgrade a gas line. It may respond to fire damage from a sudden failure.
Want your real number? Call (844) 981-1691 and mention run length and pipe size and type.
Appliance work that goes with a gas line
A new gas water heater often involves a vent and connection check, covered on our water heater installation page.
Gas line questions
New lines and major changes usually do. Your building department decides.
It is risky. Leak testing and correct connectors are not optional. We recommend a professional.
A rotten-egg smell, a hissing sound or dead plants over a buried line. Treat any of these as an emergency.
Usually not alone. A group of appliances together may exceed the line's capacity.