Can I Use a Flexible Gas Line
A flexible gas line, in real terms, has been a game-changer in the world of home heating. With the change in times, these gas lines have replaced traditional black steel pipes in major parts of the United States and have been questioned for their use for home water heating as well.
Nowadays, traditional black steel pipes are only limited to homes that were built in the late 90s or early 2000s. Newly built homes have not gone ahead with these pipes and instead employed yellow gas lines for supplying natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas.
In case if you want to know more about flexible gas lines, whether they can be utilized for the furnace or water heater, or whether they are dangerous, then you are in the right place! Read ahead to know the answers to all your queries related to the flexible gas line and home water heating needs.
Knowing the Basics of Flexible Gas Line
Flexible gas lines are used to supply natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas from the source or supply station to your home through which appliances are powered. Further, these gas pipes are also utilized for connecting the existing gas system with appliances or buildings. The pipeline continues in a drop line, a straight pipe that descends to the gadget from an above branch line. It is referred to as the riser if it delivers gas from a branch line underneath a piece of equipment up to the equipment.
The gas lines are of different types, depending on the nature of the material; for instance, these gas lines are available in corrugated stainless-steel tubing, flexible copper tubing, and polyethylene. Out of the abovementioned gas lines, gas lines made from corrugated stainless-steel tubing (CSST) are commonly used for indoor and outdoor purposes because of the increased durability and flexibility of the steel. Similarly, gas lines made from corrugated stainless-steel tubing last for about thirty years. For exterior underground installation purposes, polyethylene gas pipes are generally preferred by users due to the durability and non-corrosive nature of polyethylene.
Many a time, flexible connectors link appliances with gas pipes through the help of a shut-off valve. Flexible connectors are not allowed for use with gas furnaces, heat pumps, water heaters, or any other equipment, even if they can be joined with gas piping if they have a shutdown valve attached. Always examine the local legislation to find out where you can utilize flexible pipes.
Things to Consider While Installing a Flexible Gas Line
Whenever you are installing any gas line for a particular purpose, kindly make sure that the proper size and type of gas line is selected for the required purpose; otherwise, there could be serious consequences if you start using gas lines without taking these things into consideration.
Further, contact qualified gas line installers where there is any work for gas line installation at your place; always remember that an improper installation can even cause a fire in your house; therefore, take the process of gas line installation seriously.
ARE Flexible Gas Lines Dangerous
Flexible gas lines are preferred by many households as they are safer than the traditional black steel pipes that get broken over a period of time. If the gas lines are properly installed, then they can be used for supplying natural gas or any other gas safely to your home or furnace.
One should be careful while installing these gas lines as if they are not properly grounded; then a leak could cause a fatal disaster in your locality. Further, make sure that corrugated stainless-steel tubing is bonded properly electronically; otherwise, this, too, can make way for a perfect disaster. Thus, flexible gas lines can be dangerous if they are not installed, bonded, or maintained properly.
Issues Related to Gas Piping
It is important to know some of the common issues associated with gas lines. Improper connections or inappropriate materials are two of the most frequently found problems in newly installed gas pipelines, which can potentially lead to a gas leak in your house. There could also be an issue of rusting, improper labeling, and lack of shut-off valves on your gas pipes; therefore, stay careful at the time of gas pipes installation for the furnace.
What is the Cost of Inspecting and Replacing an Existing Gas Line
The installation cost of a flexible gas line can go up to $100, while you may have to incur huge expenses in case of the replacement of traditional pipes with CSST, as this cost can go up to thousands of dollars. Usually, the cost of repairing the existing CSST comes within the value of $250, whereas the cost of replacing the traditional pipes comes at about $4000.
Further, there are expenses that are borne by users for running a gas line. These expenses are calculated on the basis of the area; for instance, you may have to pay around $15-$25 per linear foot for operating a natural gas line. Similarly, the cost of operating a flexible CCST is $2–$4 per foot. The given cost includes materials, piping, and the hourly labor rate. This expenditure almost gets double in case you use a gas pipeline for propane.
The estimated price to put a gas line is $536, including a variation from $120 to $1,350. This national average takes into account a number of factors, such as the kind of piping utilized, the extent of piping required, and any digging through the plasterboard or beneath the ground that may be necessary.
Can I Use Flexible Gas Lines for my home
Flexible gas lines are typically used for stoves, gas ranges, and many other appliances. They may not be suitable for use with a furnace; nonetheless, on the basis of the type and model of the furnace, along with local building codes and regulations, there may be specific requirements for gas lines used for furnaces. It is always advisable that a gas line for a furnace should usually be installed by a competent technician or plumber to make sure all safety requirements are fulfilled completely as per the relevant standards and regulations.
You can also select the appropriate size and nature of your gas line for the furnace as per the recommendations of that technician or plumber. It could be hazardous and invalidate your furnace warranty to use an inadequate or substandard gas line with your furnace.
