Kitchen Gas Appliances - Gas Piping Question
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floriana1
08-04-02, 06:00 AM
I am in the process of installing suspended forced gas furnace in my garage which is recessed anout 25' from the back of the house. I will be digging a trench 18" deep to bury the gas line and here I have a few questions to ask.
a) What type of pipe do I use, can I use 3/4" copper tubing, the house has black pipe.
b) How do I make the transition from black pipe to copper tubing and do the drops from the house to the trench and from the trench to the garage have to be black pipe.
c) Do I have to treat the buried pipe whether it is copper or black pipe.
d) Also do I have to put a shutoff valve in the garage and also in the house or is one in the garage enough.
Your valued help and support is appreciated.
a) What type of pipe do I use, can I use 3/4" copper tubing, the house has black pipe.
b) How do I make the transition from black pipe to copper tubing and do the drops from the house to the trench and from the trench to the garage have to be black pipe.
c) Do I have to treat the buried pipe whether it is copper or black pipe.
d) Also do I have to put a shutoff valve in the garage and also in the house or is one in the garage enough.
Your valued help and support is appreciated.
Sharp Advice
08-04-02, 06:29 AM
Hello: floriana1
I am not a plumber. Some plumbers specialize in this area of piping. Therefore, I suggest you contact 1 or 2 and get their suggestions and advice before proceeding with this project. Opinions vary widely.
Also the advice of your local building & safety department. There are strict codes and laws pertaining to how gaslines are to be installed, what materials must be used and what pipe size to use in every situation. Also contact the local gas supply utility.
Failure to adhere to codes, installing the wrong pipe size and doing the project incorrectly can cause major grief in the future. May also void homeowners insurance, etc.
I am not a plumber. Some plumbers specialize in this area of piping. Therefore, I suggest you contact 1 or 2 and get their suggestions and advice before proceeding with this project. Opinions vary widely.
Also the advice of your local building & safety department. There are strict codes and laws pertaining to how gaslines are to be installed, what materials must be used and what pipe size to use in every situation. Also contact the local gas supply utility.
Failure to adhere to codes, installing the wrong pipe size and doing the project incorrectly can cause major grief in the future. May also void homeowners insurance, etc.
str8mex
04-02-08, 12:37 AM
you cannot use copper for gas-underground gas lines are polyethylene and you need to be certified to fuse this pipe together
if you plan on burying the gas line(black pipe) you must double wrap it with insulation made for that-sold at plumbing supply house and prior to covering trench make sure inspector approves first or you won't be happy digging it back up.
if you plan on burying the gas line(black pipe) you must double wrap it with insulation made for that-sold at plumbing supply house and prior to covering trench make sure inspector approves first or you won't be happy digging it back up.
str8mex
04-02-08, 12:40 AM
one shut off valve in the garage-i believe has to be 36" from unit-will be sufficent i can look it up tomorrow in my code book.
hankhill6018
04-02-08, 02:19 AM
A few other issues to ponder with your project:
1) Make sure the 3/4 inch gas line will be of sufficient size for the BTU load of the heater. Note, 3/4 black iron pipe and 3/4 inch copper tubing are not the same size. Black iron pipe is measured at the inside diameter(ID) of the pipe and copper tubing is measured based on the outside diameter (OD) of the tubing.
2) Make sure the piping of the existing gas system will be of sufficient size to handle the increased BTU load. Example, if you currently have a gas line in the house for only a range, it will not be large enough to handle the load of the heater.
3) As str8mex mentioned, there has to be a shut off valve. Although he mentioned it needs to be 3 feet from the appliance (which may be correct for his jurisdiction), the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), Nation Fuel Code (NFPA 54) states it has to be 6 feet from the appliance. This is an issue you will need to check with your local building department as the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) will have the final rule.
4) Even though you use natural gas in the house, consider using propane for the garage. This will save the expense of running new gas line and the possibility of upgrading the existing gas line. Chances are a propane tank can be set on an exterior wall of the house out of the way and you will need to only have piping going from the tank to the heater. Local propane suppliers will likely come out and give you recommendations and a free estimate.
1) Make sure the 3/4 inch gas line will be of sufficient size for the BTU load of the heater. Note, 3/4 black iron pipe and 3/4 inch copper tubing are not the same size. Black iron pipe is measured at the inside diameter(ID) of the pipe and copper tubing is measured based on the outside diameter (OD) of the tubing.
2) Make sure the piping of the existing gas system will be of sufficient size to handle the increased BTU load. Example, if you currently have a gas line in the house for only a range, it will not be large enough to handle the load of the heater.
3) As str8mex mentioned, there has to be a shut off valve. Although he mentioned it needs to be 3 feet from the appliance (which may be correct for his jurisdiction), the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), Nation Fuel Code (NFPA 54) states it has to be 6 feet from the appliance. This is an issue you will need to check with your local building department as the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) will have the final rule.
4) Even though you use natural gas in the house, consider using propane for the garage. This will save the expense of running new gas line and the possibility of upgrading the existing gas line. Chances are a propane tank can be set on an exterior wall of the house out of the way and you will need to only have piping going from the tank to the heater. Local propane suppliers will likely come out and give you recommendations and a free estimate.