Questions about switching from gas

Ask for the license number and look it up on the state board’s site. Ours is in the footer of every page, with a link to the board’s lookup. A plumber who won’t give it to you is not one to let in.

If you smell gas, leave the house first, then call your gas utility from outside. Don’t flip switches on the way out. If the heater is only leaking water, close the cold-water valve on the pipe above it, then call us.

It is where the water line enters the house: often a valve on a garage wall, or a lidded box near the street. If you can’t find it, ask us to mark it at any visit, and turn the handle once so you know it moves.

A visit covers the heater, the panel, the space around it and the gas line, with photos and measurements. There is a visit fee, and it comes off the price if you go ahead with the work. The pricing page says what the written plan includes and leaves out.

Yes. You get a written plan with the price before any work starts. The panel work, the gas cap and the permit each have their own line, so you can see what each part costs.

Most swaps are done in a day. A full panel, a long wire run or a closet that needs ducting can add a second visit, and we say so on the plan.

Yes. Replacing a water heater needs a permit in most California cities. We pull it, book the inspection and give you the sign-off with your paperwork.

A leak from the tank itself means replace. A part that has failed, like a thermostat or a gas valve, can be repaired. We tell you which one it is before you decide, and we say if a repair only buys you a little time.

It takes heat from the air around it, so a garage works. Most units have a backup heating element that takes over when the air is very cold, and we check the model against your garage at the visit.

Maybe. A heat-pump unit is usually taller than a gas tank and needs room for air to move. A closet can work with a louvered door or a duct. We measure it at the visit rather than guess.

The new circuit and any panel work are done by a licensed electrician we work with, and they have their own line on your written plan. We handle the plumbing, the drain and the gas cap.

Only if the water heater was your last gas appliance. A gas stove, dryer or furnace keeps the meter in use, and your gas utility decides what happens to the account. Call them before you cap anything.

Some programs are for households under an income limit. Your energy advisor can tell you which ones are open for your address, what proof they ask for, and whether the installer has to be on a list.

The maker’s terms cover the unit, and ours cover the install. Both are written on your plan before you sign, and you can read them first.

We work in Stockton and the San Joaquin County towns around it, listed on the service area page. We are open weekdays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon.