SIMPLE Gas Line Questions

[groove grabber]

Preparing to run a natural gas line from my home to my new garage. Run will be approx 180ft. I think I would like to run gas plastic underground although I would use black pipe to go under, come up. Where can I purchase this plastic gas line and approx how much will it run compared to black pipe? Also, someone told me to use 1 inch line? I take it they mean 1inch in both plastic and black pipe. Does this sound right? The 1" looks pretty big.

 

[Ezzie]

Consult with your local natural gas supply company. In my jurisdiction, we are not allowed to run the lines, only the trenching. They dispatch someone to come take a look at the proposed installation and tell you what you need to do. When the trench is open, they send a crew to install the line, connect it to the mains, install a meter (if required) and test it. You can then cover it up using a layer of sand then the original soil.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

You are going to need to use polyethelyene pipe that is specifically for natural gas. Your natural gas supplier may be able to help you, as this is exactly the same pipe they use to run gas services. The size of the pipe you need to run is strictly dependent upon how big the load is in your garage.

For example, 180' of 1" SDR 11 gas pipe will flow 196,000 BTU's per hour at a 1" w/c pressure drop. 3/4" will flow 107,000 BTU's hour, under the same setup.

As far as going into the ground and coming out of the ground, you absolutely can't do that with plastic, as plastic can never be used aboveground for gas. Your idea of transitioning to black steel will work, but instead I would recommend installing anodeless service risers on each end. These are L shaped deals, about 2 feet on each leg. They transition you from plastic underground to steel above ground.

Make sure you put a tracer wire in your ditch with your pipe. That way someone with a pipe & cable locator can find it for you in the future. Also, put a 1/4 turn valve on the house side so you can shut it all off without affecting the house's supply if you need to.

The best thing to do would be to find someone that can make you an assembly. Then, dig the ditch and carefully measure that actual length. Then, have them make the assembly to fit the ditch.

Phil

 

[carcruse]

Got a Carter Lumber near you? I bought my plastic PE pipe and anodeless risers there.

 

[Haney]

I just finished running 200' of 1 1/4 PE pipe to my new garage. I used the risers mentioned above and perfection stab type couplings. Worked beautifully. I don't know where you are located but I had to buy 500' of the stuff and have plenty left over that I would let go at a bargain. I can be emailed at [email protected]