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Thread: Running a natural gas line???

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2003
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    Running a natural gas line???

    I just got a vent free gas heater for the shop/ garage, for winter heating. I was wondering if running a line is difficult or not. Or is this something I should have a professional do?. I am aware of the hazards if fittings are not connected corectly and all the warnings and how to check for leaks. But I have never done this before and I need some opionins/help on this. (Don't want to blow up the whole house and all)

    Should I tie into the line that runs to the upstairs room and run it across the attic then down into the garage or tie into the line under the house drill a hole in the block then into the garage? Can I run the new line outside along the foundation (aprox. 7 ft.)then into the garage?

    Is copper pipe ok or should I go with the heavier galvanised pipe?

    Any help is greatly appreciated, Doug
    Last edited by Doug Jones; 09-12-2003 at 1:32 PM.

  2. #2
    Doug, I would hook to the line under the house then to garage. I would think having all that extra line in the attic might be a future problem. I would keep it outside as much as possible.
    On the line, I do not see a problem with copper. I use L.P. gas, and have two coppers underground.
    But there are no codes here on this, so check your codes first. They may require something else. Better to do it their way first than having to do it twice. Steve, not a pro gas hooker-upper. Steve


  3. #3
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    Don't use Copper

    Doug,
    I have run miles of Natural gas piping for furnaces in houses. Tap in where it is the closest. If you go' thru a block wall, put a plastic sleeve over the pipe and then just put some caulk around the hole.
    I highly recommend Black Iron pipe. Do not use Copper. It is effected by the chemicals in the gas and then it flakes off and clogs the gas valve on your unit.

    Most likely your furnace had been piped in black iron pipe. take a look at how that was done and copy it. I also suggest you put in what is called' a "drip leg". that is a "T" that you use instead of an elbow to make the last turn into the unit. the lower opening of the "T" is then closed up using a short nipple and a cap. anything (moisture or debrie) traveling with the gas should then drop into this nipple and not make it's way' intop the units gas valve. Use pipe dope and tighten firmly but you do not have to really crank on the wrench. a 12 to 14 inch wrench will be all that is necessary for 1/2 inch pipe. If you are going more that 20 feet, you should start with 3/4 pipe till you get within 8-10 feet and then you cah switch to 1/2 inch. I will explain better if you have any questions. Jim

  4. #4

    Jim Nailed it Doug!

    I would do exactly as Jim described. Black Iron is the way to go........it is available at the big Box stores, and most hardware stores. Easy to do, and you can check for leaks with some soapy water. Dishwashing liquid works fine........if there is a leak, you will see bubbles. Pretty easy project, and those ventless Gas Heaters work great. Should keep you toasty! (Also, don't confuse the Galvanized Iron Pipe with Black Iron............you want to use Black Iron.)

  5. #5
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    drip leg

    Doug -

    No need to run outdoors if you already have a line in the house. Hopefully you already have a T in the existing line (which should be black pipe); otherwise, you'll have a little patching to do.

    I've attached a couple of pictures of a drip leg if it helps.

    Affirmative on pipe dope and brushed soapy water.

    Oh yeah - don't forget to turn the gas off first. DAMHIKT (always wanted to use that).


    b
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  6. #6
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    WoW, thanks for all the info everyone. I am almost to the point where I believe I can do this with out blowing up half of C-ville.

    Do you use the same kind of pipe dope as you would on pvc pipe ? Or is this special for black iron?

    So to recap then, Black iron pipe, pipe dope, teflon tape, wrench, and drip leg. So far so good.

    Thanks again

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Doug Jones
    WoW, thanks for all the info everyone. I am almost to the point where I believe I can do this with out blowing up half of C-ville.

    Do you use the same kind of pipe dope as you would on pvc pipe ? Or is this special for black iron?

    So to recap then, Black iron pipe, pipe dope, teflon tape, wrench, and drip leg. So far so good.

    Thanks again
    The pipe dope that Brad is referring to is in lieu of the Teflon tape, Doug, and it is NOT the same thing as what you glue together PVC with. And, I do believe that there are several different types (hardening and non-hardening), some of which are not adequate for gas. Check labels and ask the plumbing dept. dude whereever you get the black pipe. Alot of places will cut it and thread it for you free. There are also short "nipples" that come pre-threaded--you'll need several of those to make the drip leg. Have fun!!
    Jason

    "Don't get stuck on stupid." --Lt. Gen. Russel Honore


  8. #8
    Doug, there is a Thread type Tape application that is approved for Natural Gas..........it is thicker than the White Teflon Tape you often see used for Plumbing applications. The Gas Approved Thread Tape is Yellow in color, but I think I would stick with Paste Type Pipe Dope........I just don't trust the thread tape on Gas Lines. The Local Gas Company, Illinois Power, doesn't use the tape, so they must know something we don't? Oh, and by the way..............You shouldn't cut the Black Iron Pipe with the New Miter Saw.............no matter how badly you want to! (I couldn't resist that one!)

  9. #9
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    Doug, there’s some good advise here, (definitely go with the black pipe). Before I installed my shop heater, I grilled my neighbor who owns a heating/air conditioning shop.
    The three points that he stressed were:

    1. Before you start, make sure that you have enough pressure in the line to handle the additional appliance. You don’t want to starve your home furnace, water heater etc., if everything is running at the same time. In my case, he came over with a pressure gage and checked my line pressure and it was ok.

    2. Keep the number of joints to a minimum. Don’t just buy off the shelf pipe and try to kluge it together with nipples & couplings I measured the different lengths that I needed and had the pipes cut & threaded to fit.

    3. Use brass fittings whenever the line material changes, e.g. black pipe to stainless.

    All in all, it wasn’t too difficult to install, I think it took me the better part of a weekend to complete. I ended up with a few extra lengths of pipe, but the installation looked professional. When I was finished, I had my neighbor come over and give it his unofficial blessing. I’ve been nice & toasty since.
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  10. #10
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    Gas Line

    Doug,
    Around here, the code use to be "black iron" and "NO Bushings". If you need to step down in size, you need to use a "bell reducer".
    Army Veteran 1968 - 1970
    I Support the Second Amendment of the US Constitution

  11. #11
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    Teflon tape!

    Teflon tape is a thread lubricant, not a sealer, it aids in pipe assembly but is really not a sealant. It also tends to shred and the shreds will clog valves and regulators. You would be much farther ahead to use Loctite 511 Pipe sealant (no affiliation), just stay back one full thread from the end when you apply it. Most Industrial or Plumbing supply houses carry it.

    Don't use copper. The acids in natural gas can cause it to develop pinholes in a short time Most codes don't allow copper. Galvanized pipe also has some problems with natural, but I don't recall what they were.
    Lee Schierer
    USNA '71
    Go Navy!

    My advice, comments and suggestions are free, but it costs money to run the site. If you found something of value here please give a little something back by becoming a contributor! Please Contribute

  12. #12

    I have a question

    I want to install an overhead heater like Bruce posted pictures of, but my shop is 75 feet from the propane tank. I learned a bunch that I didn't know by reading this thread. I was going to bury copper. Can you bury the black iron pipe?
    Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.
    Don

  13. #13
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    Unless I'm mistaken

    I believe that it is acceptable to use copper for Propane. Check with you gas supplier and they will know for sure.
    Lee Schierer
    USNA '71
    Go Navy!

    My advice, comments and suggestions are free, but it costs money to run the site. If you found something of value here please give a little something back by becoming a contributor! Please Contribute

  14. #14
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    should be okay

    Don - I'm running propane thru buried copper with no trouble. Run flex copper a couple feet deep (to be safe) to a regulator, then black pipe off the back of the regulator.

    BTW - we've had buried copper for a long time - one line was in almost 35 years; no trouble apart from having to blow it out a couple of times due to "dirty gas". Even with tree roots getting involved, there weren't any leaks.

    I would think black pipe would rust like mad, and be hard as thunder to bury.

    BTW - be careful with propane - it's heavier than air. Build-ups mean booms. A guy a few miles down the road wasn't - blew his woodshed halfway to Arkansas a few years ago on New Year's Day.


    b

  15. #15
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    Feb 2003
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    Dumfries, Virginia
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    I'm retired from a natural gas distribution company. Be careful when ever you bury metal pipe directly in the ground. We experienced copper services developing leaks within six months of being installed in what turned out to be highly acidic soil. Uncoated steel and I don't mean painted can also rust out quickly under the right soil conditions. I had a electric conduit buried in the back yard rust out in one year.

    Can't speak for all the company's but mine went to special compound plastic pipe for direct bury installations.

    For in house piping black iron was used for low pressure carrier (8" w.c.) and hard copper was used for 2 pound systems. We used pipe dope not tape on all connections to black pipe.

    I would recommend that you check local code before starting this kind of work.
    Last edited by Richard Gillespie; 09-27-2003 at 8:33 PM.
    Possumpoint

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