Tapping a Gas Line

[john_eckels]

I want to add a natural gas quick connect to the outside of my house like used for grills. I am planning on purchasing a tri fuel generator and want to use this for the primary fuel source. I see 2 different options for tapping an existing line.

1. Easiest but most risky. Put a 90 degree elbow on the capped T on the left side of the picture. I can turn off the gas at the meter but the system in the house will still be pressurized. If I can put a capped elbow on quickly there will be a minimal loss of gas. If not I am not sure how much gas will leak leak out.

2. Turn the gas off at the valve on the right. This line runs to the fireplace. Disconnect the pipe on the right side of the valve and add a T connection with another valve. This section of pipe is about 20' long and will probably need to be shortened about 2 inches.

Any other suggestions or words of wisdom? Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[trainrech]

I'd suggest contacting a professional.

Not much help, but you are dealing with the "wrong" side of the shutoff if I understand correctly.

 

[e9999]

Can't you just turn off the gas at the meter and then run your stove for while to get rid of the pressurized gas in the line?


put a valve at the T of course so you can deal with whatever later on.

 

[tehcruiser]

X2 on what e9999 said, then add a 90 and a valve and go from there. Use lots of liquid and tape teflon, and when you are done pressurise the line with some compressed air and make sure it maintains the pressure. You'll be good to go. Good luck.

 

[john_eckels]

Can't you just turn off the gas at the meter and then run your stove for while to get rid of the pressurized gas in the line?


put a valve at the T of course so you can deal with whatever later on.

Excellent idea, my stove is electric though. I will just wait for the hot water heater to kick on .

 

[proinv]

It will be ok

Excellent idea, my stove is electric though. I will just wait for the hot water heater to kick on .

Natural gas pressure is minimal, 2 to 5psi, you can cut off the main and add your fitting as describe. I would put a cut off valve there also before running the new line. Use a good Nat Gas pipe dope and check all connections with soapy water.

 

[jasonmt]

Depending upon how big of a genset you want to get, the supply pressure you have downstream of the utility meter and the piping arrangement between the tee and meter you may not have the proper piping configuration that will flow enough natural gas at sufficient pressure to run the genset.

 

[photogod]

Call the gas co and have them put a "T" on your meter then run the plastic gas pipe under ground. That's how I hooked up our Grill outside and it was free except for the pipe. If you run more than three appliances off the same inlet you may need a new valve or meter installed. The gas company here does it for nothing. When we moved into our present home they came out and replaced the gas line from the street to the house and a new meter.

 

[EdsCruisin]

x2 on the above two messages.
Pressure is only about 2 lbs, so it is not too tough to do your own piping. If you go the permit route, a plumber will likely build your new lines, without connecting them to the system, and pressurize them to see if any pressure drops over a period of a few days. Then they come back and connect up.

Here the gas company requires a building permit before they will come and replace the meter. The meter is free, but it is based on all your potential gas usage. Also the new systems use a multi-head manifold system in your home with flexible gas lines.

 

[Toyo FJ40]

Depending on the BTU load of the 2 appliances and the distance from the main you're probably going to need a larger supply than you have. The easiest thing would be what Photogod said and tee off at the meter. If you come off your main and need to increase the size you'll have to replace your main all the way out to the meter. That tap would probably run your grill if your only about 25 ft from there. You can kill the gas and pull that cap, you'll smell gas but not enough to mater. I'd put a 90 then a gas valve so you can turn the gas back on. Run soapy water over your joints to check for leaks. Natural Gas runs at about 1/2 psi.

Kevin

Edit: I see that that's only a 1/2 line and already has your fireplace on it. You can't connect to that line at all. It would have to be at least 3/4 steel pipe to run both.

 

[e9999]

well, what are the chances you'd run the fireplace and the outside grill at the same time?

added later: ooops, it is a generator, never mind the above....

 

[EdsCruisin]

well, what are the chances you'd run the fireplace and the outside grill at the same time?

High chance here. I grill about 3 days per week year round.

 

[Toyo FJ40]

well, what are the chances you'd run the fireplace and the outside grill at the same time?

It's not a matter of chance it's a matter of code. If the gas pressure drops because of too small a supply line it could be dangerous. The line must be able to carry the full load of all appliances.


Kevin

 

[jasonmt]

I want to add a natural gas quick connect to the outside of my house like used for grills. I am planning on purchasing a tri fuel generator and want to use this for the primary fuel source.

Depending on the BTU load of the 2 appliances and the distance from the main you're probably going to need a larger supply than you have. The easiest thing would be what Photogod said and tee off at the meter. If you come off your main and need to increase the size you'll have to replace your main all the way out to the meter. That tap would probably run your grill if your only about 25 ft from there. You can kill the gas and pull that cap, you'll smell gas but not enough to mater. I'd put a 90 then a gas valve so you can turn the gas back on. Run soapy water over your joints to check for leaks. Natural Gas runs at about 1/2 psi.

Kevin

Edit: I see that that's only a 1/2 line and already has your fireplace on it. You can't connect to that line at all. It would have to be at least 3/4 steel pipe to run both.

well, what are the chances you'd run the fireplace and the outside grill at the same time?

A Tri-Fuel generator (Natural Gas, Propane and Gasoline) is going to use gas at an entirely different magnitude than a grill. A 100,000 BTU grill is going to use ~10 cubic feet an hour on high, a 11kW genset running at full load on Natural Gas is going to need ~190 cubic feet an hour, a 20kW brings that number to 335.

 

[john_eckels]

I ended up putting installing a 90 degree elbow followed by a cutoff valve. It ended up being a pice of cake. Turned the gas off at the meter and fire up the water heater. It drained the pressure in about 20 seconds. I am running less then 20' of pipe. The generator I am considering uses about 87 CCF per hour at full load. The plumbing to the regulator on the generator only looks like it is about 3/8. Hopefully this will be a sufficient supply. The fireplace never gets used so am not going to worry about fueling both at the same time. Thanks everyone for all the input.

Triple-Fuel Industrial 8,250 Watt Gasoline Generator

 

[john_eckels]

I found a site with a piping chart. From what I see, I will be Ok.

Natural Gas Generator Pipe Size Chart

 

[turbocruiser]

A Tri-Fuel generator (Natural Gas, Propane and Gasoline) is going to use gas at an entirely different magnitude than a grill. A 100,000 BTU grill is going to use ~10 cubic feet an hour on high, a 11kW genset running at full load on Natural Gas is going to need ~190 cubic feet an hour, a 20kW brings that number to 335.

Awesome information and very interesting. I'm also trying to figure the amount of additional load my gas line can take for the same purpose of putting a quick disconnect on for a tri-fuel generator. My furnace is a Trane XV90I which is rated at 93% efficiency and 56,000 BTUH. I have no other gas appliances at this time however we will probably replace our hot water heater with a 40 gallon gas model whenever this one is out. Measuring from my meter I have 12 feet of 1 3/8" OD black metal gas line, then one 90degree fitting that drops down to 1" OD which then runs for 14ft, then one 90degree fitting that drops down to 7/8" OD for 6ft and then about 18" of flex line. I'm trying to figure out if our existing line can support a 6500 watt Honda Tri-Fuel generator as is or if it needs upsizing. I'd be shocked if it needs upsizing because we don't have any other appliances other than the furnace and possibly hot water heater but I'd like to be totally sure too. I looked at the links that John posted but I'm getting sorta dizzy trying to figure the 90's and the drop downs. Thanks. BTW, any thoughts on the Honda EU6500? Thanks Again.