I Have A Gas Leak & Need Advice ?

[Guest021217]

I just had a gas test on my house and I have been advised I have a gas leak.

So now I can't get my gas meter back till I get it fixed but I am a cheap ass and really not trying to go that route because its very expensive the price quotes have been anywhere from $3,000 - $7,000 and I don't have that kind of money.

So I have a question if I were to switch everything in my house to electric and get a electric water heater and electric stove do I have to add any additional wires to the breaker box or add more breaker's?

Also my water has a foul smell to It like rotten eggs will this clear up when I get the electric water heater? Is this leak something I should be concerned with?

I would ask my father but he warned me never get my gas meter taken and I didn't listen and its my responsibility to fix this so I am asking you to help me please thanks..

Muah Dorthy

[bytra2121]

Switching to electric would certainly require additional wiring and possibility more breakers. I would guess that would cost more.

Gas prices in general are going down (unless you live in small towns in the west and have to have it delivered), while electricity is going up.

Just a thought, are you sure its the water that smells and not the gas? That being said Houston's water doesn't smell the best in the world.

[bojulay]

Wow tough call, most ranges and water heaters are 240 volts I think, that sounds high
for getting the leak fixed, also if your heating unit is gas that would be the biggest
deciding factor.

Other considerations would be if you ever intend to sell the house.

I would get estimates all the way around from both and be sure and factor
in the future cost of going all electric, the price of electricity over gas.

Having an electric heating unit can be very expensive in electricity cost.

[fishingtwo]

After hurricane Ike uprooted most of my trees it also included my gas line. I was quoted 3-10 grand to fix it. Ended up doing it myself for around $5oo.
How old of a house do you live in? Is it pier and beam?

[Guest021217]

Originally Posted by bytra2121

Switching to electric would certainly require additional wiring and possibility more breakers. I would guess that would cost more.

Gas prices in general are going down (unless you live in small towns in the west and have to have it delivered), while electricity is going up.

Just a thought, are you sure its the water that smells and not the gas? That being said Houston's water doesn't smell the best in the world.

I don't live In Houston I live in small town south of Houston and its the water that smells trust me I don't use it my friend said its sulpher but I really don't know...

[Guest062114-5]

Yes. Sulphur is what makes the water smell like rotten eggs. A whole house filtration system should help. It will extend the life of your water heater, too.

[Guest021217]

Originally Posted by bojulay

Wow tough call, most ranges and water heaters are 240 volts I think, that sounds high
for getting the leak fixed, also if your heating unit is gas that would be the biggest
deciding factor.

Other considerations would be if you ever intend to sell the house.

I would get estimates all the way around from both and be sure and factor
in the future cost of going all electric, the price of electricity over gas.

Having an electric heating unit can be very expensive in electricity cost.

I am not fixing the gas I can't its expensive I have called several places and the prices are heart attack prices. I am never going to sell my house I will eventually rent it out but the problem is my heater is gas but I don't need that I just want hot water and be able to cook.. I will figure the rest out later I can always switch back and high electric bill I don't care cause I don't pay it my parents pay it.. lol I just need to fix it before they find out what I have done and get a ass whooping...

[Guest021217]

Originally Posted by LilMynx69

Yes. Sulphur is what makes the water smells like rotten eggs.

yes and I don't use the water its nasty lol

[Guest062114-5]

Originally Posted by Dorthy_Monroe

yes and I don't use the water its nasty lol

I can only imagine. Blechhhh.

I added some info above about a filtration system. Good luck. Home repairs suck.

[Guest021817-2]

DM,

if you are renting....MOVE

if it is your place, the smell with the water has nothing to do with natural gas (sewer gas yes)

IF you own the place, suck it up, and shop around for a plumber that will pressure test your line, and certify it so your power company will re-establish service with you.

Your dad wad right, once they take the meter, you are screwed.

It will be much cheaper to get the gas line fixed, than to try and switch to all electric.

[Guest021217]

Originally Posted by lookn4boobies

DM,

if you are renting....MOVE

if it is your place, the smell with the water has nothing to do with natural gas (sewer gas yes)

IF you own the place, suck it up, and shop around for a plumber that will pressure test your line, and certify it so your power company will re-establish service with you.

Your dad wad right, once they take the meter, you are screwed.

It will be much cheaper to get the gas line fixed, than to try and switch to all electric.

Not renting I own my house ugh I should have listened to him but I was thinking I knew everything and yea I know im fucked now... thanks sir I will look into this

[bojulay]

If the gas line dose not run through a slab it would be much easier to fix and should be only 2 or 3 hundred.

Another option would be to just run a new line to your heating unit and go electric everywhere else.

Unless you are under some kind of building code repairs can be done by anyone who
has the skills.

First you should find where the leak is, my bet is that it could just be at a connection somewhere which would be the simplest thing in the world to fix, could be as simple
as tightening or replacing a connection, unless the line is very old they usually don't
get leaks in the pipe or tube.

I had a leak at a connection and all it cost me was the two minutes it took to tighten the connection.

If you didn't try and find where the leak is I would do that first before anything else.

[Guest021217]

I am looking into options I guess im just freaking out my dad said he was coming to fix something at my house in march and I was like shit I have to get this shit fixed.... Thanks everyone

[Karrine_Kream]

Yeah like previously said it can be fixed a lot cheaper I'll ask my Dad. He knows about that stuff

[andre]

Some houses have sections of gas line downstream from the meter buried in the ground running close to the slab to the point where the line enters the house. It's usually only a few inches deep. This can corrode (especially if black pipe was used), and is pretty simple to spot and fix. The threaded connections shouldn't be sealed with teflon tape but with a product called Rectorseal, or an equivalent.

Good luck.