There are many reasons to install a new gas line in your home. You may be changing your present apartment to your new home. In some cases, you may want to convert your wood fireplace to a gas model. Other times, you may want to fix an existing gas line problem in your home.
The reason you need a new gas line installation doesn’t matter. What matters is how you intend to install the gas line.
While installing a new gas line yourself is possible, we won’t advise it. Gas line installation isn’t always a straightforward procedure. Some complications can occur during the job. Therefore, it may be better to contact an expert.
However, if you have some technical experience, you can always install your gas line via the DIY route. This blog is your comprehensive guide to installing a new gas line.
Here, we’ll discuss the materials and equipment you need. And, we’ll also provide a step-by-step alongside a comprehensive list of precautions. Let’s get into it.
What Do You Need to Do Before Installation
Before installing a new gas line, there are a few boxes to tick on your preparation list. First off, you have to confirm the laws regarding gas line installation in your locality. Because gas line installation can be somewhat complex, most states have rules guiding the installation. Therefore, you need to find out about these laws.
For provinces that have laws in place for installing new gas lines, there are permits you should have.
After settling all legal requirements, your next move is to decide why you need a new gas line.
Are you trying to connect your gas stove or gas fireplace, or do you need a replacement for your old gas line? Understanding the purpose of your new gas line will give you an insight into the kind of installation project you’re undergoing.
After that, you can decide on who will install the gas line. If it’s a minor project, you can try to do it, especially if you have prior experience.
However, we advise you to call an expert for any gas line installation, big or small. With an expert on the job, you’re not only rest assured about doing the right job, but you’re also sure of making correct decisions.
An expert will ask the necessary questions and do the checks required to ensure no mistake. Finally, you won’t need to worry about permits with an expert.
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Step-By-Step Guide to Installing A New Gas Line
Here’s what you need to do in progressive order:
Determine and purchase suitable pipes
The first step is to ensure you’re using suitable pipes for your gas line. Usually, a one-inch gas pipe is ideal for residential use. If you’re installing a new gas line for commercial purposes, you may need a gas line that fits at eight inches.
While these figures are generally accepted figures, they may not work for your home. You can only determine the correct size by checking the sizes of existing gas lines.
Except you have had a reason to perform some home renovations, it’s hard to locate the gas pipes in your home. That’s why you need to call an expert to do the job. Expert contractors can easily find the gas lines in your home.
Finding the existing gas line in the home will help you with pipe sizing and inform your choice of material. There are numerous material options for a gas pipe, but the black iron pipe is the most common. Other materials for gas line installation include copper, brass, and others.
Disconnect gas from the home
If your home already has active gas lines, you need to stop gas from entering the house. Gas is a highly flammable substance, and of course, you don’t want any significant or minor explosion while working.
It’s best to stop the gas flow hours before you start working. For instance, let’s assume you want to install a new gas line tomorrow; you can decide to stop the gas flow today. This way, you’re sure there’s no gas flowing through any of the pipes.
If you have never worked on the gas line in your home, you may not know the location of the control.
Usually, the valve controlling gas flow should be on the sidewalls of your home. You can easily trace this valve through any visible gas pipes. When you locate the control, stop the gas flow. It’s usually at an angle of ninety degrees to the line.
Finally, you should confirm you have stopped gas flow into the home. Switch on gas-powered appliances and check that they’re not working.
Connect gas line to existing gas pipe
Having multiple gas line connections in your home is not safe. It’s better to have a single gas line connection in your home. Through that one connection, you can have multiple power sources for different appliances. Not only is it safer, but it’s also more affordable.
Therefore, you’ll need to connect your new gas line to existing pipes. It’s a task that requires plenty of caution. You want to ensure you’re not expanding the pipework. Similarly, it’s important to ensure your connection is clean and safe for use.
You’ll need a pipe dope to help with coating the threads on the ends of the pipe. Coating the threads will ensure your gas pipe connections are safe. Doping ensures even the tiniest of air pockets can’t get into the lines.
There’s always the tempting thought to use tape to coat the pipe ends. But tape isn’t strong enough to hold pipes together. Secondly, it can also clog the entire gas line connection.
Instead, cut and keep some measured pipes in an empty room. When it’s time to assemble both, you can bring these already cut pipes to the working area.
Connect gas line to the new appliance
You’ll need a flexible pipe to connect a new gas line to the corresponding appliances. A flexible pipe makes the job far more convenient.
For gas lines, the connection to an appliance isn’t the same across all devices. The way you’ll connect your gas line to a gas burner isn’t the same for a heater system. Depending on the appliance and the brand, you’ll find connection instructions on the pack. Strictly follow the instructions for a safe, durable connection.
Ensure all connections are tight and secure
At this level, you have passed the complex parts of the gas line installation process. Now, you have to confirm if your connection is safe. The first thing you should do is double check the connections at the specific points you worked on. Retrace your steps and double-check every connection point.
Also, you need to check the overall position of the gas line in your home. Of course, you may think it’s unnecessary since you only worked on a particular section. But if there are issues with the gas line, the house, line, and all appliances are at risk.
Therefore, do a routine check on the gas line around your home. This shouldn’t be hard as you already know the gas line locations as proposed in step one.
Test your connection
After you have checked the connection, it’s time to try it out. If you’ve been following the process from step one, then there’s no need to fear. The gas line and your connections should work safely. The only issue is you may not do a perfect job the way an expert will.
The first step to testing the connection is ensuring it’s airtight. Pour water over every connection point in the gas line. If you can hear a tap-like sound, then there’s a leaking point in the connection.
If you don’t hear any sounds, you may want to go the extra mile with another test. This time, you’ll mix the water with soap. Pour this mixture at connection points in the gas line, and this time, watch for any bubbles. If you don’t see bubbles, then you have done a great job.
Sometimes, a leak may occur because of a minor issue like tightness. After tightening it, retake the test. If there are still leaks after reapplying the pipe dope, the problem is with the pipe sizes.
Before buying new pipes, recheck your measurement. You can go as far as taking a picture of the pipe. Even if you don’t have the correct pipe size, a seller can tell the appropriate size from an image.
Open the connection
When you switch the appliance on, the primary check you should carry out is gas flow. The gas lines should make a sound while the appliance works. Also, ensure that gas flow isn’t too fast or too slow into your new device.
After confirming the connection to your appliance, you should check out other devices using the gas line. If your gas line connection affects another device, it’s best to call in an expert.
Safety Precautions for Installing A New Gas Line
If you’re going to install a new gas line yourself, you must go the extra mile to keep yourself safe. Some of the safety precautions you can take include:
- Switching off all appliances: Whether the machine depends on electricity or gas to work, switching off the appliance will ensure maximum safety.
- Communicate: If you don’t stay alone or have close-door neighbours, you may want to inform them of the impending project. If you have a flatmate or family, ensure they know you’re working on the gas line. As much as possible, ensure you’re the only one present in the working area.
- Discontinue gas connection: As explained above, stop gas flow into the home.
- Have the right equipment: The equipment you’re using to install a new gas line is essential to the project’s success. Furthermore, using the right equipment ensures you won’t spoil any part of the gas line.
- Wear safety materials: A working jacket, safety boots and eyeglasses are key to protecting yourself.
- Brace before any test: Ensure you leave a good distance between yourself and the gas line while testing connections.
What Is The Cost of Installing a New Gas Line?
One of the reasons you may want to install a new gas line yourself is the cost of hiring a professional. The good news is installing a new gas line in your home shouldn’t cost more than $600. In some cases, the price can be as low as $250.
For instance, let’s assume you want to install a new gas line over a few meters, maybe one meter. You won’t need to buy a pipe that’s too long. The reduced cost of the gas pipes will, in turn, help to save you some money.
If your house has a complex gas line connection, we’ll strongly advise that you contact an expert. With labour costs, a difficult installation may cost between $800 to $1200. But for safety purposes, it’s a wise and long-term investment that you can’t regret.
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Summary
Trying to install a new gas line yourself is a bit risky but not impossible. With the information in this guide, the right tools and safety precautions discussed above, you can install a gas line perfectly.
It’s best to assess the extent of the project before you start working on the gas line. By doing so, you can call in the experts if the installation promises to be a complex one.
At ALP Heating, we not only have a deep understanding of how gas line installations work; we know how to work out functional and cost-effective gas lines in record time. Call us today to use our gas line installation services!
