Replacing gas lines

[ozarksnick]

Howdy y'all, got a question.

The house we just bought has a leak in it's gas lines somewhere. From what I'm thinking it'll be easier to just replace the lines entirely than to try to pin down a leak in lines that are easily 50 years old or more.

So I want to know what kind of options there are for gas lines? I've seen some talk of newer plastic lines as opposed to the old metal pipes.

I'd love to hear all y'all's opinions. Thanks.

[tufhelp]

If the plastic gas piping is anything like the crap they pass off for water piping in manufactured and some stick built these days, as they say in New Jersey, “Fogetaboutit!”

[desdawg]

Plastic gaslines are made of polyethelene and made for underground burial. There is a material called Titeflex that comes in rolls and uses compression type fittings for use in buildings. Titeflex is a brand name so there are probably others. I piped my house with it a number of years ago-no problems. It is easy to use as you snake it around where you want it, cut off the proper length and attach a fitting. All fittings are accessable.

[rassd71]

I'm going to offer advice erring on the side of caution. Code will have a LOT to do with what you can and can not use. Here PE, the yellow plastic gas line, is only used for direct bury and you have to use either black iron or fletcher coated iron pipe above ground. They even frown on using galv. Now, that's not to say a lot of galv pipe, nipples and fittings haven't found their way into use. So, I would suggest you talk to a local plumber or propane company on what your 'legal' options are. Personally I went with black iron above ground. Where it was exposed, it's been wrapped and painted.

[CarolAnn]

Nick,
From personal experience, I can tell you not to use soldered fittings on a gas line! If (when) they leak later, using the torch to remelt the lead can take the eyebrows right off you! ;D

Actually, you can get a roll of flexible copper pretty inexpensively and if your job allows, just do large bends (not crimping the pipe) to reduce the number of fittings. Compression fittings are so easy even I can do them.

You can find the leak you have now very easily if you have access to it: soapy water brushed on the fittings will foam where the gas is coming out. Go heavy with the soap so it doesn't run off too fast.

[DM]

When galv. pipe is used for gas applications, the galv. has a reaction with the gas in the pipe, and ends up in the system plugging up stoves ect.. down stream. This is why your not suposeto use galv. pipe..

DM