If you smell gas, this page is the second call. The first call is Peoples Gas Emergency at 1-800-400-4271 (or 911). Get out of the house, call from outside, let Peoples Gas secure the site. They respond 24/7 at no charge, shut off the gas at the meter if needed, and confirm the home is safe to re-enter.

Once Peoples Gas has cleared the immediate emergency, call Wahl at 1-855-GET-WAHL to diagnose and repair the underlying issue so service can be restored. We run 24/7 gas leak repair dispatch across our service area.

This page covers what we do when we arrive, how diagnosis works, and what to expect from the repair.

What to do if you smell gas right now

1. Leave the home. Take your phone, your keys, your family, your pets. Don’t stop to gather other things.
2. Don’t operate switches, phones, garage doors, or appliances inside the home. A spark from any of these can ignite gas.
3. Don’t smoke or use any flame.
4. Once outside and at a safe distance, call Peoples Gas Emergency at 1-800-400-4271 or 911.
5. Stay outside until Peoples Gas clears the property.
6. After the immediate emergency is secured, call Wahl to schedule diagnosis and repair.

This sequence is non-negotiable. Don’t try to find the leak yourself, don’t sniff around the appliances, don’t open windows in a way that requires going back in. The professionals handle the immediate response.

How gas leak diagnosis works

When Wahl arrives (often coordinated with the Peoples Gas response, sometimes after the home has been declared safe), the diagnostic process:

1. Confirm the source. Peoples Gas may have already identified the leak location, or only confirmed that gas was present without pinpointing where. Either way, our tech verifies.
2. Pressure-test the system. We isolate the gas system, apply test pressure, and measure for pressure drop. If the pressure drops, there’s a leak somewhere; we narrow it down.
3. Electronic leak detection. Combustible gas detector that responds to small concentrations of methane. We walk every joint, fitting, and run.
4. Soap-bubble test. Confirm the exact leak point. Spray soapy solution on a suspect fitting; if it bubbles, the leak is there.
5. Visual inspection. Look for corrosion, damaged pipe, loose fittings, signs of damage from prior work, or contractor damage during a recent renovation.

Most leaks turn out to be at a small number of typical locations:

• Threaded fittings that have loosened over time, especially in basements that experience temperature swings.
• Old corroded black iron pipe in damp basements.
• Damaged CSST where a nail or screw was driven into it during a recent renovation (CSST is more vulnerable than black iron to this kind of damage).
• Failed pilot supply tubing on older appliances.
• Buried gas service line damage from a contractor backhoe, a fence post, or an irrigation installer.
• Failed appliance gas valves (the valve at the appliance itself).

How we repair

Depends on what we find.

Loose threaded fitting: disassemble, clean threads, reapply pipe dope rated for gas, reassemble, pressure-test. Often a 30-minute repair.

Corroded black iron section: isolate, remove the corroded section, replace with new black iron or CSST as appropriate, pressure test. Half-day to full-day depending on access.

Damaged CSST: the damaged section is replaced. CSST repairs use approved fittings; CSST is not repaired with patch tape or sealant.

Old gas valve at an appliance: valve replaced, line tested, appliance relit.

Buried gas line damage: excavate to the damage point, repair or replace the section. If the damage is severe or the line is undersized, sometimes the right answer is full replacement of the buried line.

Multiple leak points or systemic corrosion: full or partial gas system replacement. We’re transparent about when a band-aid repair on a failing system is the wrong move.

Every repair concludes with:

• Pressure test to verify the system holds pressure.
• Inspection where required by municipality.
• Service restoration with Peoples Gas where they shut off at the meter.
• Appliance re-light and verification of each gas appliance.

When we recommend more than a spot repair

Sometimes a gas leak is the first visible sign that a system needs more work. Indicators:

• Multiple leaks found during pressure test diagnosis.
• Corrosion visible throughout the system, not just at one fitting.
• Older black iron in damp basement with surface rust along the length.
• CSST installed without proper bonding (a code-compliance issue, especially relevant during home sale).
• Gas line that’s been pieced together by prior contractors with mismatched materials.

When we see this, we tell you. We provide options: – Spot repair at the immediate leak only (cheapest, doesn’t address the broader condition). – Section replacement of the problem zone. – Full or partial gas system replacement.

You pick. We don’t auto-upsell, but we don’t put a band-aid on a system that needs more either.

Pittsburgh-specific patterns

A few things we see often in Pittsburgh gas systems:

Old black iron in damp basements. Pittsburgh basements take on moisture. Black iron pipe near sump pumps, foundation walls, or basement floor drains can rust on the exterior over decades. We replace these as needed.

CSST nail penetrations during finished basement work. Homeowners and contractors finishing basements sometimes drive a fastener into a CSST line. The yellow jacket is more vulnerable than the steel beneath it, and the resulting leak is sometimes subtle. We find these.

Older homes with undersized gas service. When a customer adds a tankless water heater or a high-BTU appliance to an older system, the original gas service sometimes can’t supply the demand. Symptoms include pilot lights going out when multiple appliances fire, or appliances cycling on and off because they can’t get enough fuel.

Gas line damage from recent renovation or excavation work. Sometimes a contractor cuts a line and patches it informally without proper repair. We’ve found these months or years later.

Old appliance gas valves seized at the appliance shutoff. Common at gas dryers and ranges that have been in place 20-plus years. Old shutoff valves don’t always close fully; replacement is straightforward.

Pricing

We present exact pricing in your home after the diagnostic. Tiers below show relative investment, not real numbers.

• Diagnosis (pressure test, electronic detection, soap-bubble confirmation): entry tier ($), often credited to the repair if you proceed.
• Single-point interior gas leak repair (threaded fitting, single section): entry to lower-mid tier ($ to $$).
• Multi-point or section replacement: lower-mid to mid tier ($$ to $$$).
• Buried gas line damage (excavation, repair, restoration): mid tier ($$$).
• Full or partial gas system replacement: upper tier ($$$$) depending on scope.

Part of our process is presenting numbers in person, on paper, with the repair scope and warranty spelled out before work begins.

What’s included with every Wahl gas leak repair

• Diagnostic pressure test and electronic detection.
• All materials per code (black iron, CSST, or PE).
• Pressure test of the repaired system.
• Coordination with Peoples Gas for service restoration where needed.
• Appliance re-light and verification.
• Permit and inspection coordination where required.
• Photo documentation of the repair.
• Written workmanship warranty.