When I bought my bungalow, the seller informed me that it once had had gas, but was disconnected years prior. Never gave it another thought.
Mowing my (overgrown) back lawn one afternoon, I took on the high weeds just along the back of the house. Didn’t notice the galvanized pipe sticking a couple of inches above ground. My mower hit it with a whack!! Then came a whoosh!! of gas.
The fire department arrived promptly – 4 trucks and a supervisor. And hazmat. Then SW Gas. Capped it off, temporarily. Neighbors gathered; social event of the season.
Seems that when the gas company ends service, they don’t cap the gas off in the alley, but only at the end of the pipe where the meter used to be. Since I asked, they did do a permanent cap in the alley, beyond my back fence. No charge. But their alley crew was booked about six months out. I did my best to avoid the pipe by the house in the interim.
Any extra pipes in your backyard?