Every gas connection a licensed fitter makes gets pressure-tested before an appliance is put into service, and the process is more thorough than a quick sniff test.
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Quick answer
A gas leak test after installation checks every joint, fitting, and connection on the new piping or appliance hookup for leaks, typically using a pressure test on the line combined with a soap-and-water solution applied to each joint, before the appliance is approved to run. It's a required part of any licensed gas installation in BC, not an optional add-on, and it happens whether the job is a full new line or a single appliance swap.
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Natural gas is odorized specifically so a leak can be detected by smell, but relying on smell alone after an installation isn't how a licensed fitter confirms the work is sound. Small leaks at a fitting can be well below the threshold most people would notice by smell, especially in a ventilated mechanical room or basement, and a formal test catches these before the appliance is ever put into service.
The test also verifies the whole system holds pressure over time, not just at the moment of connection, which is a different and more reliable check than a one-time visual inspection of the joints.
This sequence applies whether the job is a full gas line extension for a new appliance, a water heater or boiler swap that disturbed the existing connector, or any repair that involved breaking a joint.
Finding a leak during a controlled test, before the appliance is in service, is a normal and expected part of the process, not a red flag about the installer's competence. Joints occasionally don't seat perfectly the first time, and the entire point of testing before commissioning the appliance is to catch that in a controlled way rather than after the fact.
The fitter remakes the connection, whether that means re-threading a fitting, replacing a washer or gasket, or swapping a connector, and retests. The appliance isn't approved for use until the test passes cleanly.
In BC, gas work typically requires a permit, and the permit process includes inspection by Technical Safety BC or a delegated authority having jurisdiction, separate from the fitter's own test. Keeping records of when a leak test was performed, and by whom, matters if you ever sell the home or need to reference the work later.
Ask your fitter to confirm in writing, even briefly, that the installation was pressure-tested and passed, along with the permit number if one was pulled. This is standard practice, not an unusual request.
After any gas work, it's reasonable to stay alert for a gas odor, a hissing sound near the appliance or piping, or unusually high gas bills that might suggest a slow leak developing later, distinct from the fitter's install-day test. These are different from the leak test itself but are a sensible ongoing habit in any home with gas appliances.
If you ever notice any of these signs, the response is the same regardless of when the piping was last worked on: leave the home, then call for help from a safe location.
Safety note
If you ever smell gas, hear a hissing sound near a gas line or appliance, or suspect a leak, leave the home immediately and call from outside. Do not flip switches, light anything, or use a phone inside the house. Call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 to report a suspected gas leak or carbon monoxide concern before doing anything else. Gas piping, venting, and combustion appliance work in BC must be done by a Technical Safety BC licensed gas fitter; CANRO holds gas licence LGA0043870 and boiler licence LBP0046450.
It's a required part of a compliant gas installation in BC, tied to the permit and inspection process, not an optional extra a homeowner has to request separately.
It varies with the size of the job, but for a typical appliance swap it adds a modest amount of time to the visit and is built into the scope of the work, not billed as a surprise extra.
You can apply a soap solution to a joint you can safely access to look for bubbles, but a full pressure test and interpreting the results correctly is part of the licensed fitter's process, and any joint you disturb should be professionally tested.
It focuses on the piping and connections involved in the current job, though a fitter may flag anything unrelated they notice, such as an old connector elsewhere, for separate attention.
That's a separate service call, not a failure of the original test, since piping and connectors can develop issues over time from corrosion, vibration, or being disturbed during unrelated work. Treat any suspected leak the same way regardless of timing.
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