If you smell gas, do these things before reading further
The smell comes from an additive in the gas so people can notice a leak. Treat any rotten-egg odor, hissing sound, or dead plants near a gas line as a real leak until a professional proves otherwise.
Call the gas utility from a safe place outside. According to SoCalGas, the gas utility listed on the City of Colton's service provider page, the first step is to evacuate and call from a safe location. SoCalGas also says to call 911 from a safe location if a leak may endanger life or property or if you cannot reach the utility.
- Leave on foot. Take everyone, pets included, and leave the door open if you can do so without delay.
- Touch no switches. Do not turn lights on or off, plug in anything, or start a car in an attached garage.
- Skip open flames. No lighters, matches, candles, or cigarettes near the building.
- Call from outside. Use a cell phone from a safe distance, and call the gas utility or 911.
- Stay out until cleared. Return only when the utility or fire crews say the building is safe.
What a professional gas line test actually measures
A pressure test checks whether the piping holds a set pressure for a set time. The tech closes off the system, applies air or an inert gas at a test pressure, and watches a gauge. A steady needle means the pipe is tight, and a falling needle means a leak somewhere in the section tested.
Electronic detection works differently. A sensitive handheld device samples the air around fittings, valves, and connectors and alerts on small concentrations of gas. It helps find the exact leak point after a pressure drop, and it can catch weeping fittings that a gauge may not show.
Neither method is a casual job. The tech must isolate appliances, avoid over-pressurizing sensitive controls, and know the pressure and hold time that apply to the piping. We do not guess at those numbers, and your code edition and the Building Division decide what a job requires.
Detection methods compared
Each method answers a different question, and they work best together.
| Method | What it tells you | Who should run it |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure hold test | Whether a pipe section leaks at all | Licensed plumber |
| Electronic gas detector | Where gas is escaping | Licensed plumber or utility |
| Soap-bubble solution | Whether an exposed fitting is bubbling | Homeowner only after the supply is confirmed safe |
| Appliance connector check | Whether the flex line or valve is weeping | Homeowner visual check, plumber to fix |
| Smell and hiss | That a leak may exist | Anyone, then leave and call |
Why soap bubbles are a follow-up and not a first test
A soap-bubble solution on a fitting shows a leak when it foams. It works only on exposed joints you can reach, and it says nothing about a pipe in a wall or under a slab. If the smell is strong, the room is not the place to be testing.
Use it only after the utility or a plumber has confirmed the supply is safe, and the area is ventilated. Never replace the soap test with a flame, a match, or a lighter. Those can ignite gas and cause an explosion.
What a homeowner can check without taking a risk
These are visual and passive checks. Stop and leave if you smell gas at any point.
- Flexible appliance connectors. Look at the corrugated lines behind the range, dryer, and water heater for kinks, rust, or cracked coating.
- Shutoff valves. Each appliance should have its own valve, and the handle should move freely without force.
- Burner flames. A steady blue flame is normal. Yellow, orange, or flickering flames call for a service visit.
- Soot and discolor. Black marks around a water heater or furnace can point to poor combustion or venting.
- Carbon monoxide alarms. Test the alarms on their schedule. They do not detect gas leaks, but they flag a related danger.
What never to do, even if you think the leak is small
Do not test with a flame, ever. Do not tighten a gas fitting that is actively leaking, and do not use pipe tape or sealant meant for water on gas threads. The wrong compound can fail and make the leak worse.
Do not close and reopen the meter yourself to see if the smell changes. Skip homemade tests using soapy water while the odor is strong. If a detector or a hiss tells you gas is escaping, leaving is the test.
Gas utility and housing facts that matter in Colton
The City of Colton's service provider page lists Southern California Gas Company as the gas provider. SoCalGas's own safety page says to evacuate the area and call from a safe location if you smell gas. Save the emergency number from your bill or from the utility's website in your phone now, so you do not hunt for it in an emergency.
In an earthquake, SoCalGas says to shut off the gas only if you smell natural gas, and that there may be no need to shut it off at all. Once the meter is closed, only SoCalGas field employees may turn the gas back on. The utility also suggests keeping an adjustable wrench of 12 inches or larger near the meter or exit, so keep one with your emergency kit, not hanging on the pipe.
About 52 percent of Colton homes were built before 1980, so many gas lines and appliance connectors are decades old. Ask a plumber to inspect flexible connectors during any appliance service. Ask the City of Colton Building Division whether your repair or new gas line needs a permit. Gas appliances such as a tankless water heater draw much more gas than older units, so ask about line size before installing one.
The same safety order applies in Rialto, Loma Linda, and the rest of the area we serve, though the gas provider may differ, so check your own bill.
Frequently asked questions
Leave the building and call the gas utility or 911 from a safe location outside. The City of Colton lists SoCalGas as the gas provider. Call a plumber only after the utility has made the area safe.
You can look over connectors and valves for damage, and you can use soap solution on exposed fittings once the utility confirms the supply is safe. A pressure test or electronic detection should be done by a licensed plumber. Never use a flame.
A tech seals a section of the gas piping, applies a test pressure, and watches a gauge for a set time. If the pressure holds, the pipe is tight. If it drops, there is a leak to find.
SoCalGas says to shut it off only if you smell natural gas, because shutting it off is often unnecessary. If you do close the valve, leave it off and call the utility, since only its field employees may turn the gas back on at the meter.
No. A CO alarm detects carbon monoxide from incomplete combustion. A gas leak needs a combustible gas detector or a professional test.
Ask the City of Colton Building Division. The answer depends on the scope of the work, such as a new line or an appliance swap. Tankless water heaters can need a larger gas line, which the city's water heater page notes.