How Much Does It Cost to Install or Repair Gas Lines?

Gas Line Installation Cost Breakdown

The cost of installing a gas line depends on several factors. However, labor and pipe material contribute significantly to how much you’ll pay. 

Labor 

Installing or repairing pipes is a dangerous job that requires a lot of knowledge and experience, which increases the cost of labor. A master plumber costs anywhere between $45 and $200 per hour, while some plumbers will negotiate a flat fee for the whole job. 

Local handypeople with plumbing experience or plumber apprentices might not charge as much as plumbers near you, averaging between $60 and $65 per hour. But for this project, you'll want to make sure the person you hire is adequately trained and licensed to install gas lines.

Pipe Material 

Your materials cost will depend primarily on the type and length of pipe required. The average cost of piping is $1 to $10 per linear foot. The table below details how the price differs for steel, PVC, and copper materials.

If your gas pipe needs to bend or change direction to pass through walls or around corners, the number of turns required in your gas line will also affect the price of materials. This increases the number of fittings, supplies like thread sealant, and the time required for labor since each pipe needs to be measured, cut, and threaded before installation.

Gas Line Installation Cost by Distance

A gas line starts at the meter outside your home and leads to each appliance requiring gas. The cost depends on which scenario fits your project:

• 20 linear feet: A gas line already exists to the home and carries enough gas with no new line required, but the line requires a branch or extension, which is the shortest run of tubing needed. This costs around $400. 

• 20–100 linear feet: If your pipes don’t carry enough gas for expansion, you’ll need a new line from the manifold (or the gas distribution system in your home). This can increase installation complexity and the gas line distance, costing around $200–$2,000. 

• New line to the street: If the line to your home is already at max capacity, you'll need a new line from the main in the street. This is in addition to any new interior lines and manifold extensions and can cost $2,000 or more.

Gas Line Installation Costs by Pipe Size

Consult a pro to determine the gas pipe sizing your home needs. Without the proper size, your appliance may not function properly and efficiently. Furnaces usually require the most extensive work and the largest pipe sizes. These lines can run from $20 to $25 per linear foot. Water heaters will require smaller lines and will be less expensive, ranging from $10 to $18 per linear foot. 

A master plumber will be able to plan your gas piping system, starting from the last appliance and working their way back to the meter or regulator. The main pipe will increase to accommodate the home’s needs. 

Gas Line Repair Costs

The rotten egg smell caused by sulfur additives can alert you to any leaks. If you smell sulfur, contact your utility company immediately, and then call a pro to make repairs when it's safe to do so. Repairing a gas pipe can vary in price, depending on the location of the problem and the type of materials required.

• Leak location:

  • A leak at a junction behind a stove is a simple remove-and-replace repair and can cost $120–$250.

  • Leaks hidden in walls and crawl spaces take longer to find and can incur additional drywall repair costs of around $270–$760.

  • Buried lines require excavation and landscaping and will add $1,500–$5,000.

• Material: The type of pipe used and the length of replacement add material costs to your overall bill.

You may also need repairs since tubing often rusts over time, especially at joints where it changes from one material to another. Getting your gas line inspected each year to ensure it's working properly typically costs $50 to $75. Your plumber or service technician can check the line for rust or leaks and ensure your meter is working correctly.

Additional Gas Line Cost Factors 

Consider these other factors when planning your budget to install or repair a gas line. 

Obtaining a Permit

You’ll need a permit for a new gas line, so be sure to call your town or city hall to check on the requirements. Permits cost anywhere from $50 to $500 on average. 

Replacing a Damaged Gas Pipe

If there's earthquake damage or corroded pipes, it's necessary to replace the entire system. In addition to new installation costs, you'll pay for removing the old line, at around $6 to $7 per linear foot. Again, prices can vary depending on the line type, extent of the damage, replacement length, and location accessibility.

Moving or Rerouting a Gas Line

Moving or rerouting a line is necessary when installing features like an underground pool, adding a home addition, or meeting updated code requirements when renovating your house. Expect to pay between $15 and $25 per linear foot. 

Extending a Gas Line

Costs to extend a line will vary, depending on the line type, extension length, and any barriers the line needs to pass through. Another cost factor is if you need to extend an existing line or run a new one back to the manifold. Extending an existing line will be less expensive because it'll require less pipe, but that may not be as safe or as effective in some cases. It's up to the pro to determine the best course of action.

Landscaping and Foundation Work

You may need to budget $300 to $10,000 for landscape installation costs over or around your new gas line. If you need new concrete work, budget around $75 per cubic yard.

New Gas Meter Installation

Installation of a new gas meter for your home will rarely exceed $500. Because many companies own, install, and maintain the lines and meters, they restrict installation to types and contractors they designate. This is mainly to keep meter types consistent for wireless reading purposes. If you do have to pay, it's relatively inexpensive.

Residential meters: $100–$300. Capable of 250 cubic feet per hour (CFH)*. Commercial meters: $400–$1,200+. Capable of more than 250 CFH*. Installation Labor: $150–$400.

* Cubic feet per hour is a measure of the flow of gas into your home. 1 CFH = 1000 BTUs of natural gas and 2500 BTUs of Propane (LP).

Gas Shut-Off Valve Installation

Gas shut-off valve installation runs $300 to $500. The valves run between $100 to $300 depending on the pipe size and pressure capabilities. Labor is an additional $150 to $200 and you'll also pay for miscellaneous supplies and pipe.

Shut-off valves are commonly found throughout a gas system, typically a main valve near the meter and separate valves before all appliances. They are used whenever working on an appliance or the system as a whole.

Seismic shut-off valves are common in earthquake-prone areas where they are required by code.

Project Complexity

Digging a trench or laying pipes in a straight line is far less expensive than horizontal directional drilling (HDD), which requires new lines to be placed under an existing driveway, road, or other structure. If you need equipment for HDD and trenching, this may increase the price. Digging a trench costs $4 to $12 per linear foot.

Reasons to Install a New Gas Line

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, natural gas is used in more than half of U.S. households. Many Americans use it because it burns cleaner, more efficiently, and more effectively. Whereas electricity uses only about one-quarter of the energy consumed to produce heat, natural gas is almost 100% efficient. Homeowners even report saving $1,000 to $1,500 or more using natural gas in cold weather. 

Switching from electric to propane or natural gas or adding new appliances to your current setup will require additional pipes. Gas-powered devices tend to be more efficient and of higher quality than electric ones, but you'll need to retrofit them if your infrastructure doesn't have the correct size tubing to support the installation. We explore some of the most common appliances that might require a new gas line below.

Kitchen Stove

A kitchen stove gas line costs an average of $20 per linear foot, though there’s often a minimum charge for a plumber to come to the home. Total costs will range between $200 to $1,000 or more.

Kitchen appliances get gas through a flexible steel hose connected to a solid black iron pipe that sticks out of the wall. Keep in mind that the kitchen layout and installation complexity can more than double the price.

Outdoor Grill or Firepit

The trend toward more customized outdoor living spaces has increased gas line installations. Rather than rely on tanks that they need to refill, homeowners are getting new gas lines to power their built-in grills, kitchens, and on-demand fireplaces.

These gas lines usually run underground or under a deck for $20 to $25 per linear foot. Outdoor kitchens or firepit areas use black iron pipes and flexible tubing. It may be cheaper to include these charges into outdoor firepit construction costs, which average $700, or an outdoor fireplace installation price, which costs around $3,000. Installing a natural gas grill costs an additional $240. 

If you need landscaping services to reconstruct your patio or custom outdoor area, you'll spend an additional $1,500 to $5,000.

Gas Dryer

Installing a gas line to a dryer will cost between $150 and $1,000. You may pay more upfront for a gas dryer, but you'll find it more cost-efficient than electric dryers over time.

Water Heater

If you're upgrading from an electric water heater to a gas one, installing a water heater ranges from $750 to $1,400.

Gas Generator

Installing a gas generator will likely also require a gas line. The average cost is $360 to $740 per line.

DIY vs. Hiring a Plumber 

Hire a gas plumber near you to install, repair, or move a gas line because it's a complex process that requires an expert. Gas lines can be dangerous when they aren’t installed properly. In the U.S., gas explosions kill about 65 people each year, and a leaky gas line can also cause fires and health problems. Also, note that most homeowner insurance policies don't cover any damage to self-installed gas problems. 

Considerations When Hiring a Pro

A gas line installation doesn't need to be dangerous. Doing research, such as looking up the pro’s online reviews and determining your local code requirements, can empower you when deciding who to hire for this important job. In addition, asking your pro the right questions can help you save time and money when hiring a plumber. 

Ask the following questions below:

• Can I contact your references?

• Are you bonded, insured, and licensed?

• Are you a general plumber or a gas line specialist?

• What are the code requirements?

• Will you take care of all local permits?