SDG&E supplies natural gas in Bonita, so if you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 and SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343 from outside. The median Bonita home was built around 1975, which means many gas lines and connectors are decades old. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Bonita.
Is the gas line in my Bonita house likely to be original?
Quite possibly. The median Bonita home dates to around 1975, so a lot of houses still have their original threaded steel gas pipe. That pipe generally holds up indoors, but older homes collect weak points over time: connectors behind the range and dryer that predate current types, shutoff valves that have seized, rust where pipe is exposed outside, and branches added for new appliances without a check of the main line's capacity. Larger lots along Bonita Road and in the hills can also have buried lines to a pool heater, spa, barbecue or detached building, and those are the owner's responsibility from the meter onward. A plumber can pressure test the system to find out whether everything is tight before you add anything new.
Who handles which part of the gas system?
A County of San Diego report states that SDG&E provides electricity and natural gas throughout the county. SDG&E is responsible for its service line and the meter, and it's the call for any suspected leak. Once the utility has checked its side, repairs to house piping, appliance connections and yard lines are plumbing jobs. If SDG&E shuts off the meter because the leak is in your piping, gas stays off until the repair passes a pressure test, then service is restored and pilots are relit.
Does gas work in Bonita need a permit, and from whom?
New gas piping and alterations generally require a permit and inspection. Which office issues it depends on your exact address, and that isn't something to guess. Before work starts, confirm with the building department that covers your property, or ask the plumber, who can check it for your parcel. Either way, plan on a pressure test and an inspection before new pipe is covered up or put into service.
A local note
Bonita sits a few miles inland from the bay, so winter evenings can be cooler than right at the coast. When the furnace starts up for the season, a short dusty smell is normal. A sulfur smell isn't: leave, then call from outside.
Gas Line Services questions in Bonita
What gas piping problems show up in older homes?
Is a permit needed for gas piping work here?
Who takes care of a buried gas line to a detached garage, studio or barn?
Do gas appliances mean I need carbon monoxide alarms?
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