Gas line on outside of house?

Chris Bain_2

A heating contractor I've spoken to proposes running the gas line from our meter (in the laundry room) through the external wall to the outside of the house, along the house wall for 16-18 feet or so, and then back into the house, where they would be installing a 2nd boiler. This is not a "public" side of the house (all bushes) so other than asthetics, are there any pluses or minus to having the natural gas line on the outside of the house? I think they're trying to keep from ripping out a line of sheetrock through the finished basement.

Big Ed

Gas Line

Outside gas pipe needs to be galvanized type piping.

P.S. The short cut is saving you money ...no?

Joe Brix

I've seen it done all the time

on Comercial buildings with rooftop gas packaged units.
The only down side I've heard of is some people have had moisture freeze in a gas line when it's exposed above ground, but I would think it mostly happens in the outdoor meter.

JB_8

Freeze

> on Comercial buildings with rooftop gas packaged

> units. The only down side I've heard of is some

> people have had moisture freeze in a gas line

> when it's exposed above ground, but I would think

> it mostly happens in the outdoor meter.



The Gas Co use to put moisture in the pipes to keep the leather vavle seats from cracking. Today leather is not used & moisture is not used so it can't freeze. Don't need drip leg there is no drip to fill it.

Albert Huntermark

Outside Gas Line

I am from an older urban area, Pittsburgh,PA and like Joe, have seen and worked on many houses and buildings that had house gas lines ran on the outside of the structure. I peronally would only run them that way as a very last resort. However, it is not dangerous to install them that way, provided: 1)That they are in an area where they can't be damaged, i.e. hit by a car, kids using them for a "chin-up bar!" etc, which in your case sounds like the line will be in a secluded area. 2) The lines should be ran through sealed wall sleeves at each point where they enter and exit the building. 3) The lines should be fastened securely to the structure. 4) After the line is installed and properly tested for leaks, I would recommend that it be painted with a coat of oil based paint. This will protect the pipe from corrosion. It should only be painted after testing though, as the paint could mask a slight gas leak. As Joe pointed out, if moisture freezing in the line could be an issue, perhaps a drip leg could be installed near the point where the line exits the building. Your contractor can check with your gas company to see if moisture is a problem at your location.

Dale

Pretty common

We run pipe outside all the time, check with your utility but gas water moisture isn't a problem in most places, If you don't want to look at it go down and back up with anodelss risers with 1 inch CTS PE in the ground, most plumbing supply places have the parts. If you go above, support it well, 4 gal. clamps, 2 on each side of the coupling and use galvanized pipe, never need to paint it. If I were you I would put ball valves at each end inside to make service easy.

Chris Bain_2

great responses, all

Many thanks for all the thoughtful responses. I'll sleep better tonight!

Terry

Galv?

Now I'm concerned.
I had an additional gasline run for my deck & garage.
It runs the perimeter of the house (outside) and is black steel pipe.
Of Course I painted it with hi-Q rust paint..

Should I be calling my contractor back? or is it ok to use (just a pain to paint?)

?
EIN

jackchips_2

It is

ok to use black steel. We use it all the time, as someone mentioned earlier, on roof top units. We just paint it.

Jack

bob young

coated pipe

there is a special wrapping available for exterior installations . also coated pipe also for underground & exterior.

AL

no Galv

I wouldn't recommend using galv. pipe or copper for gas pipe because the natural and lp gas tend to eat away the coatings and cause problems at the inlets of gas valves to your boilers, furnaces, and water heaters. Use black steel or have them bury yellow plastic with approved connections.

Greg Swob

Outside gas lines

It is perfectly fine to install piping outside, so long as protected from damage as mentioned earlier. No, however to using galvanized piping, again explained earlier. One other option is to bury from point A to point B a line to minimize exposed piping. Perfection and others make 'stab-on' fittings for various sizes of piping that fit onto PE (polyethylene) piping. Coated risers are available with these 'stab-on' fittings to make installation simpler. One could go to the expense of having a PE service line fused to risers for this project, also. That would minimize the exposed portions of piping. Greg

Ray Landry

galvanized is not an allowable material for gas in Mass fyi. And, you are not allowed to install a drip leg where it may freeze (outdoors) whenever I run a gas line where it may freeze I pitch it ever so slightly back to the point where it comes from, never had any issues w/ blacked up frozen lines...

jim lockard

Black pipe

Keep it painted and you will be fine. Best Wishes J.Lockard

Big Ed

Local Codes

Sounds like better check with your local code enforcer..