Installing Your Own Gas Lines
Whether you’re setting up the stove in your kitchen or getting a restaurant ready to open, an effective gas line is key. You can set your own supply in your home, but for Vancouver, Washington commercial plumbing jobs, it’s best to get a professional plumber. M5 Plumbing is the region’s top source for knowledgeable and dependable licensed plumbers.
Have all components on hand before you start
A typical residential or commercial plumbing job requires lots of line and many connections. Elbows bend the line 90 degrees while straight couplings let you extend the line. Gated valves allow you to turn off the flow to a specific section without having to shut off the main supply.
Besides the pipes themselves, you also need Teflon plumber’s tape. Before making a connection you run this material over the male threads to ensure that you get the most secure and airtight seal possible. This tape is not suitable for adhesive purposes, but it is very strong. Keep a razor knife on hand to be able to cut it off when you need.
An adjustable wrench is your best friend. You’re going to need it to open and close some valves, and to ensure that every single connection is solid. The longer the handle, the more leverage you have. This reduces the effort that you need for each turn, but it might restrict how far you can turn the coupling at once in tight spaces.
If your project requires you to set up a line in a new room, you need to cut a hole in the wall. You might also need to pass the pipes through multiple rooms. If this runs through a visible area it’s best to install escutcheons around the openings.
The ideal tool to use for cutting walls is an impact or rotary driver equipped with a hole saw. You always want to cut to the minimum size required for each job.
Long pipes can sag or wiggle. Support them with an appropriate rigid strap screwed to a wall, joist or stud, depending on the location. You can also support your new line by hanging it below an existing pipe with a flexible perforated strap.
Safety is the top priority when handling natural gas lines
Before working on anything with natural gas, always to turn off the supply. There’s a valve next to the meter outside your building; use an adjustable wrench to turn it to the closed position.
The valve should be at an angle that crosses the pipe at 90 degrees. Double check that the meter has stopped running. If it’s still going, gas is flowing.
Measure gas lines twice, then measure some more
Follow your line to find a spot where two pieces connect. From this place, you can use a tee fitting to branch off for your new line. Measure from this area to where you need the pipe to come out of the wall.
It’s always better to have more than enough material on hand than to come up short. Be sure to check that you center every hole correctly, otherwise you’ll end up with unsightly, large holes.
Is gas flowing to your appliances?
Again, safety is the most important consideration in a natural gas line. Trace the entire installation back to see that you’re connected. After this dilute some dish soap with equal parts water and pour the new mixture over every connection.
If you see any bubbles forming at the seams, that means you have a leak and must tighten the connection. This also includes the connection from your pipe to the appliance.
Once you’ve done your final safety check, it’s time to get cooking. Open up any gated valves that you installed in the line, then go to the main valve by the meter. All you have to do is reverse your initial turn to start the gas flowing again.
If the appliance won’t light after you turn the gas back on again, it’s time to do some troubleshooting. Go back and look for a leak again, and ensure that all of your valves are open and that the gas is running. If you still can’t get your appliance to work, it’s time to call a plumber. Getting a gas line installed right is too important to take half measures.
Call a Professional Plumber
If you’re set up with everything that you need, fantastic. But if after considering the steps and tools required to install your gas line you realize that you don’t have tools on hand, it’s often best to call in a plumbing professional.
The cost of getting it done by a licensed worker can more efficient than purchasing tools that you might only use once. What if you find that you need to cut a pipe? Do you have a specialty saw and threading tools?
The experts at M5 Plumbing perform gas line installation and other tasks every day. They have the right tools for every job, and the knowledge to put them to the best use. They can handle projects that range from setting up your shiny new barbecue grill to outfitting a restaurant with commercial-quality equipment.
Local businesses and homeowners alike trust M5. They all of their work to specifications set out in local regulations. Rest easy that your building is safe from poisonous or flammable leaks when you get the job done right by a professional plumber
M5 Plumbing Services is available to give you an estimate to suit the scale of your job. Give them a call now to get started.
Besides running a gas line, this company can take care of virtually any task that you need done in your home or business. Let M5 take care of your emergency leaks, water heater repairs and installation, and more.