Generator Gas Lines and Meter Upgrades
A generator gas line in Houston has to carry enough gas for the generator and your other gas appliances at the same time. We size the pipe, run it from the meter to the unit, pull the plumbing permit and send the paperwork for a CenterPoint meter upgrade.
Signs your gas setup needs work
- You are adding a natural gas standby generator
- Your meter is the small size most homes got years ago
- Your generator surges or stalls under heavy load
- Your furnace, water heater or stove run on gas too
- The meter is far from where the unit will sit
- You have no gas service and need propane instead
- Your gas line is old steel with rust at the meter
- An inspector flagged the pipe size
How the gas side works
- 1Gas load checkWe add up the generator and every gas appliance to size the pipe and meter.
- 2Written priceYou see the pipe run, regulator and permit in one price.
- 3Plumbing permitA licensed plumber with a gas endorsement pulls the City plumbing permit.
- 4Run the lineWe run the pipe, add a shutoff and sediment trap and connect a flex line at the unit.
- 5Inspection and meterThe city inspects the gas piping. Then CenterPoint upgrades the meter after it gets the approved paperwork.
Gas line options and costs in Houston
Meter and unit on the same side of the house.
Longer pipe, larger size or trenching across a yard.
CenterPoint sets this fee. We send the paperwork and track it.
For homes without natural gas. The tank is often set by a propane supplier.
Typical Houston ranges for planning. Your written price comes after we see the job.
What changes the price
- Distance from the meter to the generator
- Pipe size needed for the total gas load
- Trenching through a yard or driveway
- Meter upgrade needs
- Permit and inspection fees
Good to know in Houston
Many Houston homes have a gas meter sized only for a furnace, water heater and stove. A 22 kW generator can need more gas than all of those together. CenterPoint upgrades the meter after the city signs off. In older neighborhoods we also check for worn steel lines near the meter.
Gas piping for a generator needs a City of Houston plumbing permit and a final gas inspection. Gas work must be done by a plumber licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners with a gas endorsement.
Questions about gas lines and meter upgrades
Why does the gas meter need an upgrade?
A generator uses a lot of gas at full load. A small meter can starve it, so it surges or shuts down.
Who pays for the meter upgrade?
CenterPoint charges a fee for it. We list it on your price so you are not surprised.
How long does the meter upgrade take?
It happens after the final inspection. Wait times vary, and they grow after big storms.
Can the generator run before the meter upgrade?
It can start, but it may not carry full load. We do the final load test once the meter is in.