I recently removed a set of gas logs from a friends fireplace. It was connected to the gas supply with 3/4" copper tubing. There is an 18" stub of tubing left in the fireplace that she did not want removed, in case she or someone else would ever want to use gas again. She said she will probably burn wood in the fireplace this winter. I have searched and have found some very high heat wrap/tape, but it is only sold in 50 ft rolls at around $4 a ft. Anybody have any ideas on what to wrap the tubing with to keep it from being destroyed?
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
very high heat pipe wrap
- Thread starter jannan
- Start date
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Copper melts at just under 2000 degrees F, a wood fire is going to be around 1100 degrees F so the pipe itself should be fine. However, if there's a soldered joint or cap on the end of the pipe, solder melts at around 370 degrees F so that's a definite concern. I assume there's a shutoff valve somewhere?
Ironhorse74
MEMBER EMERITUS
Does the fireplace have a dante valve? That is a valve with a key located somewhere on the outside of the fireplace. If so cap the line, turn off the valve and never think about it again. If you wanted to add a gas log lighter, she would probably appreciate it. Finally if the logs were properly installed, there is a clamp on the damper that keeps it from closing all the way. Remove it.
Brad
Brad
for what it's worth, just remove the pipe and be done with it. no telling what the heat will do to the anneal and very likely an installer would not use that pipe again because of it.
also be sure to have the fireplace inspected by a pro to be sure it's safe to have a wood fire in it.
the chimney may have been lined for the gas fireplace which would not be acceptable for the wood fire.
also be sure to have the fireplace inspected by a pro to be sure it's safe to have a wood fire in it.
the chimney may have been lined for the gas fireplace which would not be acceptable for the wood fire.
for what it's worth, just remove the pipe and be done with it. no telling what the heat will do to the anneal and very likely an installer would not use that pipe again because of it.
also be sure to have the fireplace inspected by a pro to be sure it's safe to have a wood fire in it.
the chimney may have been lined for the gas fireplace which would not be acceptable for the wood fire.
That was my thinking, but since she didn't want it removed, I was hoping to insulate it to prevent damage.
"Copper melts at just under 2000 degrees F, a wood fire is going to be around 1100 degrees F so the pipe itself should be fine. However, if there's a soldered joint or cap on the end of the pipe, solder melts at around 370 degrees F so that's a definite concern. I assume there's a shutoff valve somewhere?"
If I remember correctly it was a compression fitting (I'll double check that). Another thing is that she had the propane tank removed, outside the house, but left the piping, and capped off.
G_P
Well-known member
The heat is going to warp the pipe anyways and no gas installer is going to reuse that. Explain that to her and convince her to let you remove it. If its a compression fitting all you have to do is remove one nut and pull the pipe out and then replace the nut with a compression fitting cap.
Tell her that it will be a quick easy process to replace the pipe if gas is desired again.
Tell her that it will be a quick easy process to replace the pipe if gas is desired again.
The heat is going to warp the pipe anyways and no gas installer is going to reuse that. Explain that to her and convince her to let you remove it. If its a compression fitting all you have to do is remove one nut and pull the pipe out and then replace the nut with a compression fitting cap.
Tell her that it will be a quick easy process to replace the pipe if gas is desired again.
The fitting, attached the tubing to the shutoff valve in the firebox. The only way to remove the stub, would be to cut it off flush with the inside of the firebox, which she does not want done.
I will look into Tim37's suggestion of exhaust wrap, I should be able to find some of that at a reasonable price.
pcmeiners
Well-known member
Pipe wrap or not, a few hours at fireplace temp will soften the copper, get rid of it for safety reason;you touch it, something goes wrong, you will be talking to a lawyer.
I would look at the safety side of this. Let's suppose that down the line someone decides to hook gas back up to the service. There is an old beat to death piece of copper pipe in the fireplace that the meatheads aren't aware of. "Ok, turn on the gas so the new range can work"...and...!
Be aware that the way these types of things, liability wise, work is they trace back to find out who last worked on the system and they get to hold the bag. Happens all the time. For your own peace of mind, disconnect and cap off that gas line OUTSIDE the fireplace. Keeping a disconnected gas line into a wood fired box is ridiculous. If you leave that pipe, every time you drive by that house and smoke is coming out of the chimney you are going to go, Hmmmm?
It is difficult telling a customer something they do not want to hear, but you are the "pro from Dover" and should simply say you are unwilling to leave it there. Also the gas connections are not compression. Compression does not work on gas. Flare fittings do.
Be aware that the way these types of things, liability wise, work is they trace back to find out who last worked on the system and they get to hold the bag. Happens all the time. For your own peace of mind, disconnect and cap off that gas line OUTSIDE the fireplace. Keeping a disconnected gas line into a wood fired box is ridiculous. If you leave that pipe, every time you drive by that house and smoke is coming out of the chimney you are going to go, Hmmmm?
It is difficult telling a customer something they do not want to hear, but you are the "pro from Dover" and should simply say you are unwilling to leave it there. Also the gas connections are not compression. Compression does not work on gas. Flare fittings do.