How Much Does Gas Line Piping Cost?
Last Updated: January 19, 2022
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There are a number of scenarios, including the purchase of a new gas stove, adding a supplementary gas water heater, or updating your entire heating system to natural gas, that necessitate installing a new gas line. Although gas line installation is relatively simple, depending on how many gas appliances you already have and the configuration of you existing gas lines, some situations could be more complicated. At any rate, installing gas lines is dangerous, and you're going to need to hire a professional.
Gas Line Piping Considerations #
In general, gas line is installed by your local gas company (sometimes for free, depending on the scenario, contact your provider for details) or a licensed plumber. But no matter who is handling the job, there are a number of factors that come into play when determining the complexity, and therefore the cost, of the project.
Each gas appliance that's connected to a gas line requires a certain number of BTUs (British Thermal Units, a thermal energy measurement) to operate effectively, and a given gas line has a BTU threshold relative to its length. In some cases, it's possible to simply extend a gas line in order to accommodate a new appliance. But if the demand from the new appliance exceeds the line's BTU limit, it will be necessary to run a new line from the gas manifold to the appliance.
So even though you may only be installing a new gas barbecue, which seemingly only requires the extension of an existing line by a few feet, if the line can't handle it, you may have to install 30 feet (or more) of gas piping from the manifold to the barbecue. Also, depending on your home's configuration, you may have to dig extensive trenches to bury the line, drill through joists, etc.
Gas Line Installation Average Costs #
The actual cost to install a gas line depends on the amount of piping needed, the local economy, the complexity of the installation, and other factors.
- As a very general estimate, installing gas line costs $20 to $30 per foot. In some areas and circumstances, however, the price could be $75 per foot or more. This price should include the costs of trench digging and all necessary permits, drawings, and inspections.
- Extending a gas line to accommodate a new appliance might cost $250 to $500. If, however, that same appliance requires a new line running back to the manifold, costs could reach $500 to $1,000 or more.
- If your home has recently been converted to gas, the local utility company might make a deal whereby they supply the meter and cover the costs for an initial length of gas piping (say 75 to 100 feet). Otherwise, the cost to run gas line from the street to your house might be $500 to $2,000 depending on the distance.