Gas leak, gas co took meter, landlord being confrontational

Gas leak, gas co took meter, landlord being confrontational

Houston, TX · Member since 2015 · 2 posts · 0 votes

We rent a 40 year old house and on Sunday night, we smelled gas inside. We called the gas company and then sent out a guy who found 2 leaks: the stove regulator and an old in wall heating unit that is supposed to be inactive but it's not. The gas guy shut off the gas to the house and took the meter, stating that the landlord would need to get the repair work inspected before they will come back with the meter. We now have no stove/oven or hot water.

I immediately called the landlord and told him about the situation.  English is his second language and it can be very hard to understand him, especially over the phone. He kept saying that we must have turned the knob on the heater unit. I know for a fact that we didn't. When the gas guy turned the knob on for about 2 sec, the gas smell was immediate and overwhelming. No one had been in the bathroom where the heater is for at least 2 hours prior to our smelling the gas.

My wife and I want the repairs done properly and in a timely manner. The landlord has his "guy" come over with him who doesn't seem to be a licensed plumber. It is now day 2, the landlord and his guy are at the house with my wife, who doesn't have faith in their ability to do the work properly (motherly intuition?).

What are the chances that he does a "bandaid" repair job and still gets the inspector to pass it off?

If so, what can we do to have the work re-evaluated? 

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Dawn AnastasiPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2013 · 6k+ posts · 4k+ votes
11y

@David Francis does your local gas company do free leak testing?

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  • Dawn AnastasiPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2013 · 6k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    11y

    @David Francis does your local gas company do free leak testing?

  • Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    11y

    As @Dawn Anastasi just posted, the gas company has techs that come around with their "sniffer" device to pinpoint leaks. If the pipes are accessible, they can point to an individual joint to determine if it leaks or not. From the sound of your post, that is probably what they did to identify the two leaking devices you mentioned. If the heater is supposed to no longer be in service, then the gas line to that device should be disconnected and capped; just putting a shut-off valve in will allow somebody to turn the gas back on. 

    If somebody was "supervising" the worker, it should have been noted whether the worker used pipe dope on the fittings, or whether the yellow Teflon type tape was used; if white Teflon tape was used on gas fittings, that is not acceptable. 

  • Jennifer T.Pro Member
    Investor · New Orleans, LA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 944 votes
    11y

    The gas inspectors don't work for your LL.  They have no reason or motivation to just pass an inspection if the repairs were not done properly.  I personally would feel comfortable that, if the repairs pass inspection, they are fine.  Though it wouldn't hurt to call the gas company back out a couple weeks after the gas meter is reinstalled just to make sure there are no leaks.  I believe this is a free service in most places.

    I don't know for sure about Houston, but I wouldn't be surprised if the request to bring the gas meter back has to be made by a licensed person, which would be an additional layer of protection that the repairs were done properly.

  • Investor · Sugar Land, TX · Member since 2012 · 554 posts · 232 votes
    11y

    @David Francis, if Centerpoint shut off the gas they will likely require a permit be pulled to do a gas test and repair any leaks before they come back out.  If so, a licensed plumber will be needed to do that.  

    I'd do your best to work with the landlord as long as they are making professional attempts to remedy the problem.  Otherwise, if you just moved in you can try asking to get your deposit back if you move out and leave the house clean.

  • Investor · Sugar Land, TX · Member since 2012 · 554 posts · 232 votes
    11y

    This is one reason why landlords prefer an all electric rental.  Liability is lower and usually so is insurance costs.  Of course, the downside is paying for added electrical wiring and (for the tenant at least) the higher electricity bills.

  • Houston, TX · Member since 2015 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    11y

    Thanks for all of the feedback. Everything is working out ok. I think the primary issue was miscommunication with the LL at the beginning. Overall he has been helpful and responsive. A licensed plumber came out and did the work yesterday and the inspector came and passed it today. Gas company should be out soon with the meter to turn the gas back on. 

    This is all good education for me as I prepare to become a landlord in the future!

  • Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    11y

    In my area, if a meter is pulled, the gas company wants to see the piping pass an air pressure test (much lower pressure than for water) before putting the meter in. If they require that first, then you should consider it to be in good shape. 

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