Gas Line Repair in Kokomo, IN

Natural gas in Kokomo is supplied by NIPSCO, Northern Indiana Public Service Company, which is the gas utility for northern Indiana including Howard County. NIPSCO is responsible for the main distribution system and the service line to your meter. Everything from the meter to your appliances is the homeowner's system, and any leaks, damaged sections, or code-required upgrades on that side are work for a licensed plumber, not the utility.

Western Sky Heating, Cooling and Plumbing sends licensed plumbers to gas line repair calls across Kokomo. We pressure-test the line, locate the leak source, make the repair with approved materials and fittings, re-test the line, and document the work before asking NIPSCO to restore gas service to the meter. No appliance is reconnected or lit until we have confirmed the line holds pressure and the repair is complete.

Gas line issues we address across Howard County include:

• Leak repair at threaded fittings, flexible gas connectors behind appliances, and buried yard lines serving outdoor grills or generators
• Replacement of aging black-iron gas line sections inside the home that are showing corrosion at the threads or fittings
• Gas shut-off valve replacement for appliances where the existing valve is seized, leaking at the stem, or no longer rated for the application
• Line sizing corrections where an existing gas line is undersized for the combined BTU load of appliances, causing low gas pressure at the furnace or water heater during simultaneous demand
• NIPSCO reconnection coordination after the utility has shut gas at the meter for an emergency, including the licensed repair and pressure test required before NIPSCO restores service

The smell of natural gas in or around your Kokomo home requires an immediate and specific response. Natural gas has a distinctive sulfur odor added by the utility specifically so occupants can detect it. If you smell gas indoors:

• Do not operate any light switch, appliance switch, or open flame inside the home
• Leave the building immediately, leaving doors open as you go to allow ventilation
• Call NIPSCO's emergency line from outside or from a neighbor's home; NIPSCO will dispatch to shut the gas at the meter
• After NIPSCO confirms it is safe to re-enter, call Western Sky at (317) 436-3846 to locate and repair the leak before gas service is restored

A minor gas odor at an appliance connection that does not require evacuation should still be addressed promptly. Turn off the appliance at its shut-off valve, open windows, and call for service. Do not attempt to tighten a gas fitting yourself; the threads on gas line fittings are tapered and require proper torque and leak testing after any adjustment.

Who is responsible for a gas leak at my meter - NIPSCO or me?

NIPSCO owns and maintains the service line from the main to your meter, including the meter itself. Any leak on that side is NIPSCO's responsibility and they respond to those calls as emergencies. The gas line from the meter outlet to your appliances is your system. Leaks on the house side are the homeowner's responsibility to repair through a licensed plumber.

I think my flexible gas connector behind the stove is leaking. Can you check that?

Yes, that is a common call for older Kokomo homes. Flexible stainless gas connectors have a service life, and older corrugated connectors can crack or develop pinholes at the fittings. We pressure-test the connector, replace it if needed with a current-rated flexible connector, and test the joint before reconnecting the appliance. That repair is typically quick and inexpensive compared to a full line repair.

My furnace technician said the gas pressure is low at the furnace. Is that a gas line problem?

Possibly. Low manifold gas pressure at the furnace can be caused by an undersized supply line, a failing pressure regulator, or high demand from multiple simultaneously running gas appliances exceeding what the existing pipe diameter can supply. Our licensed plumbers assess the full gas distribution system and identify whether the problem is a line sizing issue, a regulator issue, or something the NIPSCO supply side needs to address.

Do you need to be present when NIPSCO restores gas after a repair?

Yes. After our repair is complete and the pressure test confirms the line is sound, we coordinate with NIPSCO for gas restoration. When gas is restored, we relight pilot assemblies and verify all appliances are operating correctly before we leave. Leaving a home with restored gas pressure and unlit pilots or improperly reconnected appliances is not acceptable practice.