Gas Tapping

Corktown

I just found this in my basement of my 1925 steam-heated house. It's about ten feet away from where the current washer and dryer are. With the current configuration of this part of the basement, I can't imagine why it's there.

Any idea as to what something like this would have been installed to provide service for?

Thanks in advance ....

EdTheHeaterMan

OUCH!

That is a tap for a small appliance like a gas log fireplace insert, or possibly a gas lamp post outside.

At least the flare fitting is properly capped.

Edit. Check for leaks with spray on bubbles. if it ain't broke ... don't fix it

If it is leaking, then get it fixed professionally.

Steamhead

Basement heater?

mattmia2

or an outdoor grill

Corktown

Well, this is located about midway from the front to the back of the basement and probably about 8 feet in from the outer wall, which faces the driveway. 

Not too far away is a roughly 40 inch run of fin tube, in between the joists and right below the kitchen floor. The only heating in the kitchen is an electric “baseboard“ heating unit on one wall, btw. Other than that, the only basement heat is what comes from the boiler (and its various pipings) and that was walled in (turning it into the “steam room“) by someone a number of years back.

Right now, Steamhead’s comment has a little cache to it, methinks. But I know there are a lot of possibilities. I know who the long time owner of the house was, but I’ve never had a chance to speak to them. I’m thinking that they might know the answer ….

delcrossv

Maybe one of those gas fired radiators in the kitchen?

EBEBRATT-Ed

@mattmia2

Don't think they had invented gas grills when that went in LOL. If it's near a chimney gas fired incinerators use to be popular in the basements.

I agree with @EdTheHeaterMan spray it down and check for leaks.

If it's not leaking have the pipe replaced the next time you have any gas work done

pecmsg

I have to ask..................Before or after the meter?

Corktown

Thanks, EdTheHeaterman, for the good suggestion. I sprayed the tapping, and echoing the old Johnny Bench Krylon commercial, "No leaks, no runs, no errors". If an opportune time arises, I'll have the section of pipe removed. As a note, we've been in the house for about 18 years.

EBEBRATT-Ed, this is located on the opposite side of the basement from the chimney, but I never would have thought about a basement incinerator. I vaguely remember those now. Somehow I can see one of those working its way into a Netflix suspense drama as a plot device, "Breaking Bad" - like.

The gas meter is outside, so this is post meter, to address your query, pecmsg. And I get your drift, as some folks have that "I'm the first person ever to think of gaming the system, no one will ever know!" frame of mind. Funny how often that doesn't work out the way their 'master plan' intended!

I don't want to take up too much of everyone else's energy on this little mystery, but I'll post one more picture. The area in question is next to the side door landing, with stairs leading to the kitchen rising above the area, and stairs leading to the basement in between the tapping and the outer basement wall. Additionally, it's located next to a wall that divides the front and rear halves of the basement, one that has the look of having either been original, or something that's been there for a long time ....

IMG_7094.JPG

bucksnort

1925? Gas lighting?

Corktown

mattmia2

Any holes in the floor? Absorption refrigerator?

I thought it looked relatively modern.

Much easier to just adjust the spring in the regulator up a couple inches than add a tap to the line if you want to steal gas.

Corktown

No, mattmia2, the side entrance stairs for the kitchen end above where this is located.

No holes to be found, except of course the “hole“ in the narrative that tells the story about what all of this is about! ...

bucksnort

Maybe somebody was cooking meth in the basement?

Gsmith

When we moved in to our mid 1920’s house in 1980 there was an older gas stove in the basement that was used occasionally, like in Thanksgiving and Christmas. We’ve heard of other houses in our area (north Jersey) that had second gas stoves in the basement as well.

mattmia2

Gary Smith said:

When we moved in to our mid 1920’s house in 1980 there was an older gas stove in the basement that was used occasionally, like in Thanksgiving and Christmas. We’ve heard of other houses in our area (north Jersey) that had second gas stoves in the basement as well.

that was common before air conditioning for cooking in the summer without heating up the house. that tap is far too small for a range but it doesn't mean that someone didn't do it.

PC7060

In that era, home were still being piped for gas lights.   Our 1928 home has several old gas lines in wall that have long since been disconnected. Pipes alway seem to be right behind where I was placing a outlet during the renovation!

EBEBRATT-Ed

I think @mattmia2 guess of an absorption refrigerator is a very good guess. As I recall they ran on a 3/8 or 1/2" od soft copper. makes the most sense

realliveplumber

We commonly see them, used for exterior gas lamps.