Gas Piping

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

We were installing a gas seismic valve at the gas meter today and when I was de-threading the nipple out of the wall, it didn't feel right. You know what it's supposed to feel like after you do this for awhile, no? Anyway, just as the nipple got to the last thread, I felt the fitting in the wall slip away.

This is what I saw when I looked through the hole.

hot_rod

the electrical service grounded to the gas line?

JUGHNE

Or gas line bonded (grounded) to electric service??

NEC requires any metallic piping, ductwork etc that could be energized to be bonded to the electric grounding electrode system........this is seldom done.....often overlooked.

Or this was a mechanical clamp/fastener to keep the gas piping from being pulled out too far of the outside wall??

EBEBRATT-Ed

My eyes are not the best looks like hammer and chisel time. Looks like the nipple broke off in the fitting

ChrisJ

I've dethreaded a few things...
I think you mean unscrewing.

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

I'll find out more in the morning when I open up the wall, but i think that's a grounding clamp. Around here, it has to be exposed and not buried in the wall.

BillyO

geez, always something. Good luck

EBEBRATT-Ed

Guess it's the threads looking shiny. Thought the pipe broke

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

ChrisJ

What's the black and red thing on the pipe by the meter?

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

http://www.earthquakestore.com/koso-valves.php

ChrisJ

@Alan (California Radiant) Forbes As you know I'm a DIYer so I'm asking this out of curiosity, not to be insulting.

I thought you were never supposed to wrench a pipe or nipple without having a wrench on the fitting as well? I don't see how that fitting could have been supported by a wrench without opening the wall before hand.

Is this more of a "goes by feel" rather than a hard rule?

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

@ChrisJ No problem with the questions.

You're absolutely right with "backing up" a fitting when screwing in a nipple and in this case, the backing up was done by the rest of the piping in the wall and floor. I could tell that the elbow was fully supported.

If I'd felt that there would be a problem, I would have removed more sheetrock to make room for a wrench on the pipe or fitting.

HomerJSmith

I always tighten them until they break, then I give'm one more turn.

GW

Chris if the piping is secure, no need for a second wrench. It doesn’t take a lot of torque to tighten a nip. If there’s a chance to unspin something you don’t want to in spin, then yes, two tools

Identifying “secure” might be a challenge for some people. Just basic leverage stuff