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A tiny outdoor gas leak leads to costly indoor gas appliance repairs

A tiny outdoor gas leak leads to costly indoor gas appliance repairs

TULSA, Okla. – David Dickens smelled natural gas in his backyard and immediately called Oklahoma Natural Gas to have it checked.

ONG noted: “Just a small leak,” he said.

It came from a place where pipes were connected and could be easily repaired.

KJRH

So it came as a surprise to Dickens when the ONG engineer had to check his indoor gas appliances before service could be restored.

The inspection revealed problems with his water heater, furnace and more.

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KJRH

He said that some things were no longer up to current code and I would need to have them fixed by a plumber before they could reconnect the gas supply. I hired a plumber to do an estimate and he estimated about $7,000 for needed repairs/updates. I’m going to get one or two more offers because that seems too high to me.

Why is ONG allowed to require a homeowner to spend thousands of dollars to replace the gas lines inside just because a small leak was discovered outside? Can I appeal this and just fix the external leak?

Screenshot 10/14/2024 at 3:37:02 p.m..png

KJRH

2 messages checked with ONG:

If your natural gas equipment or piping is unsafe, the natural gas service will need to be turned off. A qualified technician must repair or replace the equipment and piping, and in some cases, a city inspection will be required before we restore service.

As a reminder: Oklahoma Natural Gas maintains the natural gas line up to your meter. Customers are responsible for everything beyond that, including house and yard piping, appliances and connectors. We highly recommend regular inspections by a qualified technician.

Chad Previc, Oklahoma Natural Gas

If you ever smell natural gas:

  • Leave the building immediately and call ONG, your local natural gas service provider, or the fire department to check the problem

To avoid costly repairs to natural gas appliances:

  • Stay on top of routine inspections and maintenance
  • Qualified technicians were always used for repairs

Contact the problem solvers:

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