Smell Gas in Benson? Leave First, Then Get the Gas Line Repaired
If you smell gas, get out first and call 911 from a safe distance before you do anything else. When the utility has made the home safe, the dispatcher routes the call to a plumber of ours serving Benson, who tests the piping before it goes back into service.
Call (520) 340-7175 Gas line answersReachable at any hour after you are safe
If you smell gas: the order of steps
- Get everyone out of the building at once. Do not stop to open windows, find the leak or collect belongings.
- Do not turn lights or appliances on or off, use a flashlight switch, start a car in an attached garage or use a phone inside the building.
- From a safe distance, call 911, then the gas provider named on your bill. Inside Benson city limits, that is the City of Benson Public Works gas utility.
- Stay out until the utility or the fire department says the building is safe.
- Call us afterward if a pipe or appliance connection needs repair.
Source for the utility: Public Works page on bensonaz.gov, checked 2026-10-30. Outside city limits or on propane, the provider is on the bill or the tank label; this page does not name one.
Who fixes gas leaks: utility, plumber or appliance technician
Three parties are involved, and each handles a different part. The gas utility shuts off supply, checks the meter and the line up to it, and will not usually repair piping inside the home. A plumber repairs, replaces or installs the house gas piping and connects appliances. An appliance technician handles the appliance itself, such as a furnace or a range. When a leak is at a connection, the plumber and the technician may overlap.
| Part of the system | Who handles it | What the reader does |
|---|---|---|
| Gas meter and service line to it | The gas provider | Report damage or a leak to the provider |
| House piping beyond the meter | A plumber | Pressure test, repair or replace |
| The appliance and its control valve | An appliance technician or a plumber | Call with the model and symptoms |
| Venting for gas appliances | Plumber or technician, depending on the appliance | Confirm who is responsible before work |
Gas line repair
A repair replaces a failed fitting, union or pipe section and restores a tight system. After any repair the plumber should test the line with a pressure gauge and check each joint with a leak detection fluid, not by smell alone. Leaks at threaded black iron joints, flexible connectors and old shutoff valves are common sources.
Replacing old pipe: black iron and CSST
Black iron is rigid, threaded steel pipe and is common in older gas systems. CSST, or corrugated stainless steel tubing, is flexible, goes in faster and is used in newer construction. Each has bonding and installation rules that the code and the manufacturer set. Ask the plumber which one is proposed, why, and whether the old line is being replaced in full or in sections.
Gas line installation
New gas piping is added for a range, a dryer, a water heater, a fireplace, a grill or a generator. The plumber sizes the pipe for the total load, runs it to each appliance and installs a shutoff valve at each one. Sizing matters because a line that is too small starves appliances when several run at once, as a gas tankless unit does when it fires at high flow.
Appliance hookups: range, dryer, fireplace, grill and generator
- A range or dryer needs a shutoff valve, a rated flexible connector and a leak test after hookup.
- A gas fireplace or insert needs the right pipe size, a shutoff in a reachable place and venting that matches the unit. Which type is installed changes the work, so ask for the manufacturer instructions to be followed and a test to be shown.
- An outdoor grill or fire pit connection needs a weatherproof, correctly sized line and a shutoff.
- A generator needs its own sizing, since it adds a large load that the original piping may not carry.
- For a gas water heater, a gas water heater problem has its own page, as does a replacement tank.
For a commercial kitchen or other business, a shop or restaurant kitchen may add requirements that this page does not cover.
Inspection and pressure testing
A pressure test closes the system and holds a set pressure on a gauge for a set time. A drop means a leak somewhere. The test is done after new piping is installed, after a repair and sometimes after a long vacancy or a natural event. Ask the plumber to record the test pressure, the duration and the result on the invoice.
Permits and codes
Gas work is where permits and test inspections come up most. The Building Department, (520) 720-6328, can say what applies, and the City's page names the 2015 fuel gas code among its editions. A complete rule for every case was not published, so ask before work begins. Source: Building Department code list on bensonaz.gov, checked 2026-10-30.
Propane
Propane systems differ in pressure, regulators and tank placement. If the home runs on propane, the supplier is named on the tank, and the plumber should know which regulators and connectors the supplier requires.
What a plumber should document for the utility and for you
- The location of the leak, the pipe or fitting involved and how it was found.
- The repair made and the parts used.
- The pressure test result and the time the test ran.
- Any appliance left disconnected and why.
- Whether the utility needs to restore service or re-light appliances afterward.
If the gas provider shut the supply off, they may require a passing test before turning it back on, so ask the plumber for a copy of the record.
Questions about gas leaks and gas piping
Can a gas fireplace or insert be connected to an existing gas line?
Sometimes. The line must be the right size for the extra load, there must be a shutoff in a reachable place, and the venting must match the unit. A plumber checks pipe size and tests the line after hookup.
What is a gas line inspection or pressure test?
The plumber closes the system, applies a set pressure and watches a gauge for a set time. If the reading holds, the piping is tight. A drop means a leak. Ask for the test pressure and the duration in writing.
What should I do if I smell gas?
Leave the building right away, avoid switches and phones inside, then call 911 from a safe distance and the gas provider. Do not go back until you are told it is safe.
Who fixes gas leaks in a home?
The gas provider handles the meter and the service line to it. A plumber repairs or replaces piping in the house and connects appliances. An appliance technician handles the appliance itself.
Other pages for gas appliances and hot water
Smell gas right now?
Get everyone out and call 911 before anything else. After the utility has cleared the home, call us and one of our plumbers takes it from there.
Call (520) 340-7175 Contact details