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Gas line question for Big Maxx 50k BTU

daws87

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2021
Messages
24
First time posting here but I've spent hours browsing through the forum in anticipation of having my new heater installed. The drywall is 99% done and the attic will be insulated before the end of the year. We bought our house last year and the garage was a nightmare so I gutted it to the studs, insulated the walls, ran new dedicated 20 amp outlets, added a 240 to "future proof" it and it's becoming my dream garage.

The last piece of the puzzle is a garage heater. We have an insulated door and I've already air sealed everything but we are in Minnesota and it gets very cold here.

Currently my meter (opposite side of the house from the garage, of course) is regulated down to 2 PSI (confirmed by calling our gas company) and once it enters our house it's reduced even further (~1/2 PSI) before it hits our manifold. The manifold supplies our furnace (furnace is right next to the manifold), water heater (right next to manifold) then there are two runs (1/2" type K copper I believe) that goes to our kitchen range and our gas dryer which is in a room right next to the kitchen.

While I'm having the gas hired out (I'm comfortable DIY'ing a LOT of things but not gas) I want to see if it's possible to tap into the existing 1/2" line right behind the dryer (dryer is 20,000 BTUs) and T it off for a run of another ~20 ft before it would then supply my soon to be 50,000 BTU Big Maxx.

That would put it at about 30' of 1/2" to the dryer and from there another 20' of 1/2" to the garage heater. It would be MUCH easier, and cheaper for me, to go this route as our basement is completely finished and there would have to be some major work to get a new, dedicated line from the manifold in the basement all the way out to the garage.

Just looking for anyone's advise before I go out and buy the heater. The plumber isn't even able to come out and quote yet for a few weeks so trying to see what would need to be done beforehand.
 
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That1Guy

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Joined
May 9, 2014
Messages
76
Location
Mid Michigan
Your gas contractor will be able to assess your system and tell you if it's possible. He will also determine if your current meter is capable of supporting an additional 50K BTUs as some houses can be right at the edge as far as meter capacity. He'll add up the total BTUs of all of your gas appliances, plus your Big Maxx and compare it to what your meter is rated for and make sure that the run you want to tie into can support the load. Only then will anyone be able to tell you if you'll be able to piggyback that line or if new, larger lines will need to be installed.
Good luck. I hope it goes smoothly for you.
Let us know when you find out.
 

Gizzi

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Joined
Oct 25, 2015
Messages
68
Without consulting with the proper charts and doing some calculations, my initial gut instinct is that tapping off a 1/2" line that could be toward the end of the piping run is cutting it too close in terms of its ability to handle extra BTU's. Without the dryer running it might be ok, but might drop too much pressure with both running.
 

toyotadriver

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Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
1,586
According to a gas line sizing chart, you need 3/4 inch line for natural gas to be able to feed both appliances at a time. Looks like you need to run a new line. Actually, you need 3/4 just for the heater with a 50 ft run. 1/2 line at 50 ft can only move 46k btu.
 
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D45

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Mar 21, 2014
Messages
4,842
Location
NW INDIANA
I tapped into my clothes dryer 1/2" gas line also

I installed a 3/4" line for running gas into my garage for heat.......about a 60 foot run

No issues at all

Do it all yourself, it's easy work
 

HoosierBuddy

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Joined
May 9, 2006
Messages
2,955
Location
Southern Indiana
I ran the calc for you. The answer is no. You'll have too much pressure drop with 50 feet of 1/2". Even if you upsize from 1/2 to 3/4 for the last part of the run it won't work. You need to go all the way back to the manifold and run a new 3/4" line to your heater, then reduce down for the appliance connector.
 
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daws87

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2021
Messages
24
I ran the calc for you. The answer is no. You'll have too much pressure drop with 50 feet of 1/2". Even if you upsize from 1/2 to 3/4 for the last part of the run it won't work. You need to go all the way back to the manifold and run a new 3/4" line to your heater, then reduce down for the appliance connector.
That was my worry, appreciate you looking into this. Plumber is coming out next week to take a look. I'm pretty handy but coming off the main manifold and running it through our finished basement will be quite the task so I'll leave it to the pros.
 
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