who to call to cap a gas line

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Average Cost of Gas Line Removal

Most homeowners hire a plumber to remove a gas line at a cost averaging $115 plus the cost of a permit cost if one is required. The cost is the same to cut and cap or plug the line, since the job goes pretty quickly. This is because simple jobs take less than an hour and cost the plumber’s minimum first-hour service fee.

More difficult or hard-to-reach gas lines cost $200 or more to cut and cap or remove altogether.

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 12, 2022

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Overview of Gas Line Removal

Removing a gas line is done one of two main ways.  The easiest technique to remove a gas line is simply cutting the line, if necessary for space, capping it and leaving where it is.  This is less expensive than physically removing the gas line pipe back to where it is connected to the main gas line.

Capping a gas line will often require a house call by a licensed plumber. Plumbers usually charge by the hour with a one-hour minimum fee. So even though the actual job of capping the gas line will only take 15-20 minutes, a whole hour plus the cost of materials will be charged, typically between $65 and $150 per hour with an average of $115.

If you need to fully remove the gas line it will take more time and cost. Common reasons for removal rather than capping include that the gas line is old and unsafe or damaged. It could be the wrong size to handle the needed gas volume, so must be replaced.

For example, hooking up some gas appliances requires a ¾-inch gas line, but many households have ½-inch gas lines. The old gas line is removed in this scenario to make way for running a new gas line.

Maybe you’re tackling a new project like replacing a tank style water heater with a new tankless gas water heater, and the old gas line is simply in the way.

In this gas line removal price estimate, you’ll find cost factors, retail costs for supplies and tools plus pricing from other reliable estimating sites. The pros and cons of DIY gas piping removal are discussed too.

Product and Installation Supplies Cost Details

Gas Line Removal Cost Factors

We’ve alluded to the largest factors, but here’s the whole list.

• Who Does the Work – You can cut and cap a gas line safely if you have the right knowledge of the work plus the tools and supplies required. But the best choice for safety and peace of mind is to hire a plumbing contractor. That’s our recommendation for interior home improvement jobs involving gas.
• Cut and Cap vs Remove – It’s much easier to cut and cap a line at the point it exits the wall or floor, for example, than to locate where it connects to the main gas line within the house, remove it, plug the connection and then pull the disconnected gas line out of the floor or wall – if you can even get it out. Leaving a section of cut gas pipe inside a wall is common.
• Access – Whichever technique is used, the easier the line can be reached, the less time it will take and the less it will cost. But keep in mind most plumbers charge a minimum fee of one hour labor.

Retail Costs for Gas Line Removal Tools and Supplies

This is a pretty basic job requiring few tools and supplies. Here are their costs.

• $100 – $200+ | Reciprocating Saw to cut iron pipe (optional)
• $25 – $40 | Reciprocating Saw Rental by the half-day or day
• $2 – $10 | Black Iron Cap or Plug for a cut or removed gas line
• $4 – $8 per roll | Teflon Tape to wrap pipe threads
• $15 – $50 | Adjustable Plumber’s Wrench to remove black pipe

Permits, Inspection, Related Costs and Installation Time

Removing or capping a gas line is a relatively quick and simple process for a licensed plumber. A licensed plumber responding to a question on Angie’s List calls it a “5-15 minute job,” to cut and cap or plug a line, and so prices it at $90-$150, the minimum plumbing fee. Home Advisor is similar, pricing the service fee at $75 to $150. Both are consistent with our typical cost range of $100-$125.

To physically remove an existing gas line in order to do another indoor home improvement project will take more time. Homewyse pegs it at a 2-hour job to remove a gas pipe, which is longer than the majority of jobs take. As a result, the site prices it at $230 to $280 to shut off the gas, cut and remove the line, cap it and leak-test it.

Permits and Inspection Cost

• $0 – $100 | Simply plugging an existing gas line doesn’t require a permit. But in most communities, if a gas line is altered – cut or removed altogether, a permit and inspection are required. If you hire a plumbing contractor, they’ll pull a permit if needed and pass along the cost to you.

Related Costs

Here are a few itemized costs related to installing a gas line. You might have a few of these depending on the scope of your project, and their cost are in addition to what prices for gas line installation.

• Cost to Run a Gas Line from the Road to the House: $15 – $25 per foot
• Cost to Install a Gas Appliance: $150 – $300 based on services provided
• Cost to Convert an Appliance for Propane: $40 – $75
• Cost to Install a Free-standing Gas Fireplace: $1,485 – $2,775 installed and based on the cost of the fireplace you choose and installation difficulty.
• Cost to Install a Gas Line Shut-off Valve: $350 – $550 each.
• Cost of a Gas Line Pressure Test: $75 – $150, according to HomeGuide, and that’s a pretty accurate estimate
• Cost to Install a Vent Flue: $650 – $950, required for many gas-burner appliances

DIY or Hire a Pro?

The removal of a gas line is a relatively simple process if you follow these steps:

1.  Shut off the gas supply.
2. Disconnect or cut and remove the gas line.
3. Use Teflon tape on threads, wrapping them clockwise if they are outside threads and counterclockwise if they are the threads of a plug that will screw into a pipe.
4. Cap or plug the gas line and do a leak test.
5. Physically, if needed, remove the old gas line that has been cut.

If you’re trying to remove old and corroded black pipe fittings during the job, SF Gate offers useful tips here.

If you have the know-how and skills to DIY, there are two main things to remember when removing a gas line:  First- make sure you turn off the gas at the meter using an adjustable wrench or you can turn off the gas using the shut-off valve.  Second- use soapy water and make sure that there are not any gas leaks after you’ve cut or plugged the line.

So removing a natural gas pipe in your home can be done without the help of hiring a licensed plumber. But just because it can be done, doesn’t always mean it should be done.

We think “pro” is the way to go when it comes to gas projects.

What do you think?