Protect yourself and those around you by contacting Underground Service Alert, at no cost.
Accidents involving contractors and excavators are one of the leading causes of pipeline damage. With approximately 100,000 miles of natural gas pipelines in SoCalGas® service territory, unmarked pipelines can be anywhere. Damage to natural gas pipelines can cause injury or death and can result in additional costs.
Because of this, it's especially important for contractors and excavators to be informed of the potential safety issues that might arise when working around natural gas pipelines.
Mark out your proposed excavation area. Use white paint or provide other markings.
Wait to dig until we either mark our natural gas pipelines or you are advised that the area is clear.
Submit a request online* or call 811.
The Underground Service Alert is available between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).
Use only hand tools within 24 inches of each marked utility line to determine the exact locations of all lines before using any power excavation equipment in the area.
If you suspect a natural gas leak or pipe damage, immediately evacuate the area, and from a safe location call 911 and SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200.
Be aware of signs you may see, hear or smell to further improve the safety of your home and community.
If you see a damaged connection to a natural gas appliance, dirt/water blowing into the air, dry patch of grass, fire or explosion near a pipeline.
If you hear unusual sounds like hissing or whistling
If you smell the distinctive odor[1] of natural gas.
[1] Some persons may not be able to smell the odor because they have a diminished sense of smell, olfactory fatigue (normal, temporary inability to distinguish an odor after prolonged exposure to it) or because the odor is being masked or hidden by other odors that are present, such as cooking, damp, musty or chemical odors. In addition, certain conditions in pipe and soil can cause odor fade the loss of odorant so that is not detectable by smell.
Sometimes physical and/or chemical processes can cause a loss of odorant in natural gas, making it undetectable by smell. Odor fade is more likely to occur in the following situations:
Because of the possibility of odor fade, it's important to not rely only on your sense of smell to be alerted to a natural gas leak.
For a printable copy about odor fade and safe purging practices, see our Safety Brochures and Materials . If you
have additional questions or concerns regarding pipe conditioning or odor fade, call us at 1-800-427-2200 or contact a licensed, qualified professional.
Before fumigating make sure to have your natural gas service shut off by a SoCalGas technician.
See how shut off and excess flow valves can help in an emergency.
Make sure your sewer line isn’t blocked by a natural gas pipeline.
Learn about issues concerning corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) and learn about the applicable codes and
manufacturers' instructions that need to be followed when working with it.
Learn what safety precautions to take when purging a natural gas line.
Do not use the natural gas meter for electric bonding or grounding.
