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Gas Meters and Lines

What to Do if You Smell Gas

If you ever smell gas, leave the building or home and call CenterPoint or your utility company immediately.  CenterPoint natural gas leak hotline: 612.372.505 or 1.800.296.9815 

Gas Meter Installation Process 

City Involvement

 

  1.   Client must call CenterPoint or local gas utility company and request a new gas meter. 
  2.   If the installation is for a new project, we must size the total structure, inclusive of all the BTU ratings, and that's what CenterPoint bases the meter sizing from as well as PSI requirements. This new installation process that requires drawings and calculations.  This is done by us. 
  3.   A city permit will be required as well as all necessary documentation and payments required.  This is done by us. 

County Involvement

  1.   For a new installation gas meter location, for a new building or home, we must go through the proper building permit process.  For simply turning gas back on or replacing a missing gas meter, in the county jurisdiction only, there is no process other than following proper CenterPoint or utility company procedures.  

Client Responsibility

 

  1.   Call CenterPoint or utility company in order to apply and up an account.   
  2.   For new installations requiring gas, proper building plans and utility company feasibility studies must be coordinated to ensure that gas is available at your site.  We can help with this but will need to know the following: 
    1.   What appliances or equipment will be connected to gas and what are their gas specifications? 
    2.   What is the site address?  

Upgrading an Existing Meter for More Capacity 

This process follows the same Gas Meter Installation Process as outlined in this article.

Getting Gas Turned Back on at Existing Site 

 

City Involvement

 

  1.   Note: After a building or home has been unoccupied for six months and nobody has paid a gas bill, the gas company is going to require us to pull a GTO (Gas Turn On) permit.
    • We must test the existing gas line, meet inspector, pass inspection and then we can proceed with the gas turn on process as normal.  

What We Do

 

  1.   We pull a GTO (Gas Turn On) permit.  We must test the existing gas line via pressure-hold test for 24 hours, meet inspector, pass inspection and then we can proceed with the gas turn on process as normal. 
  2.   Once inspected by the city, the plumbing permit is released to CenterPoint or the local utility company for connection and gas turn on.  
  3.   All documentation relating to the permitting, gas turn on testing, our invoicing for repairs (if any) must all be provided to CenterPoint or utility company as evidence.
    • Typically, we provide this information to the client, and they call on behalf of their final connection.   

The GTO Process

  1.   The GTO process involves turning everything OFF and pressure testing the gas lines for a period of 24 hours. 
    • This must be done by our licensed plumbers.  All lines are tested throughout the property up to the utility main valve.   
  2.   We temporarily disconnect the meter outside. Install a test gauge at the entry pipe main line.  The lines going into the building are put on this 24-hour test.  
  3.   We make sure all valves are off to appliances and equipment.   
  4.   The test will tell us if there are any leaks that need to be repaired prior to calling the inspector.   
  5.   Usually, leaks are repaired and then another test is performed to ensure proper operation, prior to calling for inspection.  
  6.   You should expect some repairs on older equipment or valves as they often tend to fail.  
  7.   If there are any existing code issues, those must also be brought up to current code prior to calling for inspections.  
  8.   For commercial installations or connections, we typically wait on-site for the inspector, meet and discuss his ruling and/or make any other improvements to the system that they would like completed.
    • In residential situations, we recommend the homeowner simply meet the inspector.  

This article has been shared by Direct Service, Construction and Design to specifically accommodate our intended clientele.  The intent of sharing this information is to better inform the public of these general topics, expand knowledge and safety for all and provide crucial information in regard to their MEP and building systems and/or assets. It is NOT our recommendation that any article recommendations or how-to scenarios be attempted by anyone other than a qualified or competent person.