OT sort of - Natural Gas Line in House

[jfsmith]

I need to run an addition natural gas line to another part of my basement for a heater. My guestion is this one, does this all have to be done in black iron pipe or is a new plastic piping that will work?


Jerry

[monte55]

Better check your local codes...............black pipe can be a pain but it will last just about forever.......don't have to worry about rats chewing on it or a nail poking it causing a leak. Black doesn't cost that much..............

[alha]

Hi, just a thought, I am running gas out to my workshop, and ended up going with TracPipe, it's flexible stainless steel pipe in a plastic cover. Works quite well, especially since you don't have to drill holes exactly on center if you're running it thru studs like you would with black pipe. Something you might want to consider. Only prob is it isn't cheap, but not sure how much you would need. I got a 175' roll of 1/2" on ebay for $315, there are often shorter lengths available. Here's a link to their website, might want to take a peak. http://www.omegaflex.com/trac/index.asp Good luck, and be safe!

[aametalmaster]

I use black pipe inside, but i am an old Millwright with all the threading tools so its easy for me. I don't know about the plastic inside but i do use it underground. Like monte said check with your codes to be sure...Bob

[reemrev]

The tracpipe is becoming more popular. I have not yet seen plastic house piping and have worked at a natural gas company for over eleven years. The main thing you need to know about your piping requirement is the new appliances load. If you have black pipe now and you are using natural gas, not propane, then you probably are on a 7" system of house piping. That is 7 inches of water column or 1/4 lb. of pressure. They used to run black iron pipe because everything was low pressure from the main line to the house and all appliances were for 7". Now, a preferred method is flexible copper on a 2 p.s.i. system or the trac pipe. When you are on a 2# system, you have a regulator at the meter that cuts it from main line pressure to 2#'s and then at each appliance there is another regulator that cuts further to 7". There are 5 and 7 # systems, but mostly for industrial. You can find out from your gas company what your system is and look at the paperwork that came with the appliance you are hooking up. If you are currently on a 7" system, then you will have to size your pipe accordingly. If you are going to do this yourself, I would strongly suggest calling your local gas company and talking with someone there. There should be someone there who will gladly go over some requirements with you and get you headed in the right direction.

[jfsmith]

O.K. I like TracPipe Idea. Right now I have the money to do these things. I want my shops setup right the first time, it seems that we can always find the money to set things up right the second time.

I installed one of those vent less radiant heaters in the basement as an experiment in doing heating before doing this to the bigger shop, which is a two car garage in disguise. The heater I installed in the house is doing one bang up job of heating the basement and the house.The shop in the garage will be on Propane instead of natural gas. It makes more sense due to the distance from the house.

Monday or Tuesday I will call the gas coop and see what my system is. Generally the coop business office end up having me talk to some other office in another part of the state or country.

Thanks,

Jerry

[SkidSteerSteve]

....The shop in the garage will be on Propane instead of natural gas. It makes more sense due to the distance from the house.

Monday or Tuesday I will call the gas coop and see what my system is. Generally the coop business office end up having me talk to some other office in another part of the state or country.

Thanks,

Jerry

Just FYI, if you are now talking about a propane system, you have to throw out all the pressure references of a natural gas system. Propane usually runs about 11-12" WC. Different areas have different codes. Some require double regulators. Some put a 10PSI reg at the tank and then an 11" at the entrance of the structure. Different strokes/different folks. Good luck and invite us over for coffee when the shop's toasty! SSS

[fun4now]

if you are running a line for propain you could use copper line. not shoure of the $pre ft. diferances but it might be easyer to run, provided coades alow it but i dont se any reason why they would have a problem with it, its running all over under me3/4" line to the stove and i'm not shore whats going to the hot water heater but i know its all copper. easy to install, just dont forget the nail guards in the studs. dont want to pop a nail threw it later on down the road.

[Steve]

I would call in the pro, grunt a few times, throw money at em, and live happily ever after.

[fun4now]

that would work also.

[jfsmith]

In the Columbus paper, there was something about Columbis gas and bad plastic pipe in peoples homes, that Columbia is responsible for. I couldn't cut out the article, I was at a conference all day then a 2 hour drive back into snow country again.

I will have a friend get it for me.

Jerry