Adding a gas line to a new appliance typically runs $400-3,500 depending on the run length, where you are starting from, what is in the way, and what permit and inspection scope applies. The most common Round Rock requests in 2025 are gas lines for whole-home generators (post-Uri demand), outdoor kitchens, and fire pits, plus traditional projects like converting an electric range to gas or feeding a new tankless water heater.
This guide breaks down what each project looks like.
Quick Pricing by Project Type
| Project | Typical run length | Round Rock typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Gas range from existing gas line nearby | 5-15 ft | $300-700 |
| Gas dryer from existing nearby line | 10-20 ft | $400-900 |
| Tankless water heater gas upgrade | 20-40 ft | $600-1,500 |
| Outdoor grill / outdoor kitchen | 25-50 ft | $800-2,000 |
| Fire pit | 25-50 ft | $700-1,800 |
| Whole-home generator (standby) | 30-80 ft + meter upgrade | $1,800-4,500 |
| Pool heater | 40-80 ft | $1,500-3,500 |
| Garage shop heater | 25-50 ft | $800-2,000 |
Add 10-25% if the meter needs upsizing to handle additional BTU load.
What Drives Cost
Run length. Each foot of pipe costs material and labor.
Pipe material.
- Black iron — traditional, durable, threaded fittings. Most common indoors.
- CSST (corrugated stainless steel tubing) — flexible, faster install, needs proper bonding. Common for newer installs.
- Polyethylene (yellow plastic) — for buried runs outside.
Routing complexity. Pulling pipe through finished walls, attic, or crawl spaces is faster than excavating across a yard. A run under a driveway is the most expensive type.
Sizing requirements. A higher-BTU appliance needs larger pipe, and may force upsizing of the line back to the meter.
Meter capacity. If you are adding significant BTU load (a generator, pool heater, plus existing range and water heater), Atmos Energy may need to upsize the meter — $200-500 service fee plus several weeks of scheduling.
Permits and inspection. Round Rock requires permits for new gas runs. Permit + inspection typically $75-200, included in our quotes.
Common Project Walk-Throughs
Gas Range (Electric to Gas Conversion)
If your kitchen has existing gas service (water heater, dryer) you likely have gas in the wall behind or near the range location. Adding a stub-out at the range location is straightforward.
What it involves:
- New tee in the existing gas line
- Shutoff valve at the range location
- Stub through the wall behind the range
- Flex connector to the range
- Pressure test
- Inspection
Typical cost: $300-700. Add the cost of the range itself.
If your kitchen has NO existing gas, the run can extend significantly — $600-1,500 or more.
Whole-Home Generator
The fastest-growing gas project in Round Rock since the February 2021 Uri winter storm. A 22kW Generac or Kohler generator typically draws 250-350 cubic feet of gas per hour at full load.
What it involves:
- Sizing analysis to ensure existing gas system can support the additional load
- Likely meter upgrade ($200-500 Atmos fee + scheduling)
- Buried polyethylene line from the meter or branch tap to the generator location
- Riser at the generator pad
- Shut-off valve
- Connection to generator gas inlet
- Pressure test
- Inspection
- Coordination with electrician for the electrical side
Typical gas-side cost: $1,800-4,500. Total project including generator and electrical installation: $12,000-18,000.
Outdoor Kitchen / Grill
Buried polyethylene line from the home's existing gas system out to the patio.
What it involves:
- Locate existing gas line accessible point
- Trench across yard to outdoor kitchen location
- Lay polyethylene line in trench with proper depth and bedding
- Riser at the outdoor location with shut-off valve
- Backfill and restore turf
- Pressure test
- Inspection
Typical cost: $800-2,000 depending on yard distance.
Tankless Water Heater Gas Upgrade
Tankless gas heaters use much more gas per hour than tank heaters — even though total daily gas use is similar. Most tankless units need 3/4" gas line; older homes often have 1/2".
What it involves:
- Sizing calculation
- Larger gas line from meter (or branch tap) to the water heater location
- Possibly upsizing intermediate sections
- New shut-off valve at the heater
- Stainless steel flex connector rated for tankless
- Sediment trap
- Pressure test
- Inspection
Typical cost: $400-1,200 as part of a tankless installation.
Pool Heater
Buried run from the home to the pool equipment pad. Larger BTU load than most outdoor appliances.
What it involves:
- Similar to outdoor kitchen but with larger pipe
- Often requires meter upgrade
- Riser at equipment pad
- Connection to pool heater inlet
- Pressure test
- Inspection
Typical cost: $1,500-3,500.
Atmos Energy Meter Capacity
Atmos sizes residential meters based on typical home load. Most standard meters handle:
- Range
- Water heater
- Furnace
- Dryer
- One outdoor appliance (grill, fire pit)
Adding a generator, pool heater, or second furnace often requires:
- Meter upgrade (Atmos provides at no/low cost typically)
- Possibly a larger service line from the street
- Scheduling delay (2-6 weeks in busy seasons)
We assess this as part of any quote that adds significant gas load.
Codes That Apply
International Fuel Gas Code as adopted by Round Rock. Key items:
- All gas lines must be sized for total demand at the highest-flow appliance
- Each appliance needs an accessible shut-off valve
- Sediment traps are required at most appliances
- CSST must be electrically bonded to prevent lightning damage
- Outdoor buried lines must be specific materials and depths
- Risers transitioning from buried to above-ground must use approved fittings
We pull permits and design to current code.
DIY: Don't
Adding a gas line is illegal in Texas without licensing. Beyond the legal issue, the safety stakes are real:
- Improperly sealed joints leak gas slowly
- Wrong pipe material can corrode or fail
- Inadequate sizing causes appliance malfunction
- Missing shut-offs prevent emergency isolation
- Failed pressure tests miss leaks until they accumulate
Even handy homeowners should hire out gas line work. See our who installs gas lines post for the licensing details.
Service
Gas line installation and additions throughout Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, and Hutto. Free phone estimates.
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