The plumbing for most propane yard lines is either copper tubing or plastic polyethylene piping. The materials that can be used to establish a propane gas line vary by state. Copper pipe is prohibited in some states. You might wonder if black iron piping, which is used to transport natural gas, can also be used to transport propane. Yes, to put it simply. Again, if you’re installing propane or natural gas lines, check with your local authorities to see what materials are permitted in your location.
Is it possible to run flexible gas line inside?
Many households in the northern half of the country will have to turn on their heating systems at the beginning of October. Natural gas is one of the most cost-effective and efficient fuels for a furnace or boiler. With its benefits come questions about safety and obligations for homeowners. It is your role as a home inspector to assist in the detection of flaws that may jeopardize the safety of residents in natural gas-powered homes. We’ll go through some of the fundamentals of gas piping inspection.
The gas supply line, also known as the building line, is the plumbing that runs throughout the house. Individual appliances are served by branch lines. The branch line finishes in a drop line, which is a vertical pipe that drops down from an overhead branch line to the appliance. If it carries gas up to an appliance from a branch line below the appliance, it’s called a riser.
A sediment trap or dirt pocket, commonly referred to as a drip leg, is normally present at the appliance connection point and consists of a nipple and a cap. This pipe extension, which is normally at least 3 inches long, is designed to catch any water or foreign material that may be present in the gas before it enters the appliance. The solids and liquids fall into the pocket, which is just a gravity mechanism.
The homeowner is normally responsible for the pipework downstream of the gas meter. The gas company is normally responsible for the piping upstream of the gas meter, as well as the meter itself.
Steel, copper, and brass are the most popular materials for gas piping. In some cases, galvanized steel, copper, brass, or CSST (Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing) can be used, but copper is prohibited by some utilities. Copper is widely used in different parts of the world. You should be aware of what is considered acceptable in your neighborhood. Black steel piping with malleable iron or steel fittings is common. In other cases, galvanized steel is also used.
Flexible connectors are allowed to be used to connect appliances to gas pipelines. A shut-off valve must be installed at the rigid piping connection. This valve must be located in the same area as the appliance.
Accessible and three or six feet long: The flexible connectors cannot pass through walls, floors, or ceilings, and they cannot be hidden. Except for gas stoves and laundry dryers, the flexible connector length is normally limited to 3 feet. 6 feet is usually allowed for these equipment. Using nipples to splice or join connectors is frequently forbidden. Flexible connectors are only allowed in some jurisdictions for gas stoves, dryers, outdoor barbecues, and other semi-portable equipment. Flexible connectors may be prohibited on gas furnaces, water heaters, space heaters, and other similar appliances. Flexible connectors are more likely to be utilized on all appliances in earthquake-prone areas because they give some protection against gas piping leakage or rupture during an earthquake. To find out what is and isn’t permitted in your area, consult your local gas code.
The use of white thread seal tape (often referred to as Teflon tape) as a connecting compound for steel gas piping is not recommended. Cutting oils on the pipe threads from the manufacturing process may hinder the tape from sealing. Yellow thread seal tape is permitted in some regions. Pipe dope is favored and may be the only option available. You might wish to double-check with the gas company. Inquire about whether any piping installations with thread seal tape of any color should be reported as a defect.
Although certain exceptions exist, most appliances should have a shut-off valve nearby.
The use of gas piping as a grounding mechanism for the electrical service is prohibited by most authorities. In many countries, however, bonding the gas piping to the electrical grounding system is required. This is often accomplished by connecting the gas pipe to the supply water piping (assuming it is grounded) near the water heater. We want to keep the gas piping at zero electrical potential by attaching it to the grounding system to prevent an electrical potential building within it that could lead to arcing, which could ignite gas.
All of these issues have the potential to result in gas leaks and explosions.
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Is it possible to utilize PEX pipe for propane gas?
PEX pipe is not the same as PE piping, and the two are frequently confused. Polyethylene, or PE, is a flexible plastic polymer that is ideal for piping in wells and other cold-water supply lines.
PEX stands for polyethylene that has been cross-linked. It is made of polyethylene that has a stronger bond between the different polymer chains that make up the material. PEX is now suited for both hot and cold water applications as a result of this advancement. It can also be utilized in some gas applications, depending on the building code.
PEX and PE are more flexible and have a significantly greater pressure rating than typical gas lines, thus they suit those requirements. They are, however, made of a soft material that could be damaged by nails, rodents, and other objects. As a result, in your location, either may not be permitted for use as a residential gas line. Even when the utility provider is able to install it, plumbers and homeowners are not always able to.
Is it possible to run a propane line through the attic?
Lightning strikes are the biggest danger for gas lines that run through the attic. If lightning strikes a gas line directly or close by, it can generate enough heat and energy to burst the line. This could produce an explosion by igniting the gas. Alternatively, the gas could just add to an existing fire in the attic.
CSST, a form of corrugated stainless steel tubing used for some gas lines, has previously been linked to explosions and house fires. According to NBC, fire marshals believe a fire started in one case in Lubbock, Texas, when lightening struck the electrical system and arched into the gas line. Unfortunately, one person died as a result of the incident.
What size propane pipe do I need?
Section 1 requires 1/2 inch pipe to feed outlets A and B, or 35 cubic feet per hour. Section 2 requires 1/2 inch pipe to serve outputs A, B, and C, or 94 cubic feet per hour. 3/4 inch pipe is required in Section 3 to supply outlets A, B, C, and D, or 230 cubic feet per hour.
How deep should a propane line be buried?
For the protection of the line and connections on both ends, the yard line is subject to depth regulations. Depending on motor traffic, depths range from 12 to 18 inches underground. The reason for this requirement is simple: the earth, dirt, sand, or whatever is covering the line must provide appropriate protection against damage to the subterranean gas line. The weight of a car can quickly crimp or destroy a copper line running beneath a dirt drive that is only a few inches underground. Similarly, stumbling over a line running over the ground’s surface might cause significant injury. Inadvertent movement of the gas service line can result in leaks forming at the line’s connections on both ends. The gas line must be buried at a safe and needed depth for these reasons. Illegal installations include propane gas pipes that run along the top of the ground (as seen above).
Is it possible to use black pipe for propane gas?
Running black iron pipe for propane use might seem like a daunting task, and you will pay a professional dearly to get the job done. The truth is that this is a great do-it-yourself project if you have the necessary tools and some basic pipe fitting knowledge.
This can be done in an afternoon depending on how much pipe needs to be installed, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars in installation fees.
What is the name of the yellow gas line?
In the gas business, HDPE pipe is less frequent and is typically used in non-residential applications with high pressures (up to 125 psi). HDPE pipe can be black, black with a yellow stripe, or black with a yellow outmost layer, whereas MDPE gas pipe is yellow.
What is the purpose of the flexible black gas line?
Counter-black Strike’s conductive jacket has been demonstrated to be 400 times more resistant to the destructive effects of electrical energy than yellow CSST. It also pulls easier and lays straighter than yellow CSST. CounterStrike is more resistant to the impacts of lightning than traditional CSST with additional bonding since it does not require additional manufacturer bonding!
For a gas range, what size gas line is required?
Installing a gas range or water heater is a straightforward task that requires only a few basic tools and widely available materials. You can also complete the job safely yourself if you use the correct supplies and follow the instructions carefully. For a hook-up, a professional may charge as much as a few hundred dollars.
In this post, we’ll teach you how to hook up a gas range with a flexible, corrugated connector (a gas clothes dryer is similar), and how to hook up a water heater with threaded black steel gas pipe.
Most home centers and well-stocked hardware stores carry flexible corrugated gas connections as well as gas pipe and fittings (black). Flexible connections made of stainless steel or coated brass are the only ones marketed these days, and the only ones you can use safely and legally. Corrugated connectors constructed of uncoated brass or other metal, which were sold until the 1980s, have been shown to be dangerous. Do you have one in your home? Now is the time to replace it!
The most crucial step in ensuring a secure installation is to get the appropriate connector. Here are some things to keep an eye out for:
- Purchase a connector that is clearly labeled “range” or “dryer” for the equipment you’re connecting. A range connector’s corrugated tube is usually 1/2 in. dia. i.d. (inside diameter), while a dryer connector’s corrugated tube is 3/8 in. dia. i.d. These measurements are not always printed on the package, but they will be for either the range or the dryer.
- Purchase a connector that includes the end connector fittings you require (see Photo 3). The gas line into your kitchen is usually 1/2-in. black threaded pipe, with a male (external threads) or female (internal threads) 1/2-in. fitting connecting it to the stove. Use a black gas pipe fitting on the line to accommodate the end connector fitting if you can’t find a connector package with end fittings that match what you need for the gas line. On the gas line, for example, we show a 1/2-in. x 3/4-in. coupling to accommodate the 3/4-in. end connector fitting in Photos 2 and 3. (See How to Connect Gas Pipe Lines for further information on possible connections and how to connect to soft copper supply lines.)
- Use a long connector to give yourself enough of room to work between the gas stove and the wall. They are available in lengths ranging from 24 to 60 inches.
- A flexible connector should not be reused; if you obtain a new appliance, you should also purchase a new connector. Follow the connector installation instructions to the letter. Our Photos 1 through 5 present a real-life image of how this is done. Here are a few more guidelines:
- Avoid kinking or forcing the corrugated connector into abrupt bends, as this could cause it to break.
- Always look for leaks in your work (Photo 6). Gas leak detectors can be found in home improvement stores, hardware stores, and on the internet.
- Although it is not always necessary to have a range hookup tested, we strongly advise you to get your work checked by a local gas company or plumbing inspector.