How to tap into natural gas black pipe?

Question

I want to put my gas clothes dryer in my garage. There are no gas outlets in the room. There is a black pipe in the attic that provides gas to the furnace and hot water heater. I want to tap into that pipe and then run some of that flexible yellow metal gas tubing to my dryer.

How can I tap into the black pipe?

Answer 1

Seriously, I really wouldn't be getting advice like this from Y!, but what the hell.....if you blow yourself up, don't come crying to me...this should be done by a professional.

Turn off the gas at the source!!!!!!! Turn on your gas stove or dryer to burn-off the gas that is sitting in the pipes. You will have to make two trips to the local hardware store. The first will be to get a "T" fitting to tap into the existing pipe and all the pipe and fittings to get to the garage from the location of the "T" tap. Go into the attic and place the T fitting where you want it on the existing pipe and make two marks for the section of pipe you are cutting out (where the threads end on the INSIDE of the T fitting. You will come-up short if you mark the cut lines at the ends of the T fitting. Take a pipe wrench and loosen the existing pipe. This will also let any extra gas out of the pipes, so make sure there is proper ventilation. Tak the pipe to the garage and cut the pipe on your marks. Take the two pieces to the hardware store and have the cut ends of the pipe threaded by the hardware store guy. Go back home and correctly (with pipe putty for gas lines) connect your T fitting between the two newly threaded pipe ends. Replace this segment where you took it out in the attic. From the remaining opening of the T fitting, connect the drop into the garage and there you go. Turn on the gas and make sure to rub a solvent of soapy water over each joint to make sure it doesn't bubble. If it does, that means there's a gas leak. Take the joint apart, clean the joint and re-putty the joint and all other joints that bubble. BE CAREFUL

Answer 2

Black Gas Pipe

Answer 3

Can't tap into the line supplying the furnace. Against the code. Supply to furnace/boiler must be dedicated. Only a water heater is allowed to feed off that line.
Either come directly from the meter or tap into a line that feeds your range.

Find a short run of pipe. Shut off gas, hacksaw the pipe in half, using two stilson wrenches remove both pieces. Bring to supply house and buy three nipples with a tee and union in the line that will make up to the same length. Buy some yellow Teflon tape too.


Slim, why two unions? Do YOU know what you are doing? And the yellow Teflon tape is made for gas. Update your knowledge man. If you give advice give correct advice.

- Licensed contractor and home builder.

Answer 4

Slim Whitman is correct.

The best way is to disassemble all the pipe from the last appliance and work backwards to install a threaded Tee fitting where you want the tap point.

Be very careful with the location of the unions in your attic.

Unions can leak, so you need plenty of ventilation in the event that any gas would leak out. Some building codes do not permit a gas union inside a living area -- they need to be in ventilated crawl space or outdoors.

All of your fittings should be black pipe, bronze or brass - don't mix galvanized iron in the gas lines.


If this task is beyond your skills, hire a pro who knows what they are doing, and can assume liability for anything that goes wrong.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How to tap into natural gas black pipe?
I want to put my gas clothes dryer in my garage. There are no gas outlets in the room. There is a black pipe in the attic that provides gas to the furnace and hot water heater. I want to tap into that pipe and then run some of that flexible yellow metal gas tubing to my dryer.

How can I tap...

Answer 6

I have done this before.
Turn off the gas and drill a small hole in the pipe where you want the pipe to be tapped into. I used compressed air to blow into the hole to disapate any remaining gas. Then use a pipe cutter or sawz all to cut the pipe. Thread the two ends and put a "t" in the existing pipe.
I would run stright steel pipe to the point at the dryer where yoyu would add the flex pipe.

Answer 7

the process is to 1st turn off the gas..

You'd need get a "black tee" and "two unions" and two black pipe nipples.

measure the tee, nipples and unions account for the threading..

Cut the pipe accordingly.

Thread the ends that you cut

attach one end of the disassembled unions to the ends of the threaded pipe, attach the nipples to the tee and the other pieces of the union. applying liberal amounts of pipe dope. Use the stuff in a bottle with a brush. DO NOT USE TEFLON TAPE FOR GAS.

Assemble the tees.

Put a nipple in the tee toward the dryer, and put a gas valve and another nipple to attach the supply line to the dryer.

close the dryer supply valve, turn on the gas and check for leaks with soap solution. If no leaks, your good to go, if not, fix the leak with dope.


NOTICE!!

Hold harmless advice..
Best if you've not done and don't have the thread tools to have a pro do it. Cost of you doing it, about $20, Cost of having a pro do it about $100, peace of mind to have a pro do it OR the knowledge you can do it yourself --- PRICELESS.

Answer 8

HIRE A PLUMBER!!!! Some things you just shouldn't do-it-yourself to save a buck.
This is very dangerous, you can't just drill a hole or cut the pipe and tread in a tee fitting, threaded pipe doesn't work that way... screw on, screw off.
You must be certified to install the yellow coated stainless steel gas piping.
It's worth it to hire a profesional, if you destroy your house because of a gas leak where you did the work yourself, forget about an insurance settlement.
Or worse if you kill somebody.
I don't want to read about this on the Darwin Awards.

Answer 9

Don't cut anything! Shut off the gas. Remove the pipe you consider tapping in to. Buy replacement pipes and include a T where you want to tap. Be certain you use Teflon tape, and be sure it is Teflon tape for gas, and not for water.

If you cannot remove the entire pipe yourself, don't attempt this. It is not worth it.

Answer 10

You need to cut the pipe and fit a `T' piece in so that you can connect an additional length of pipe and run it to where you need the flexible pipe connection. This should really be done by a professional to avoid accidents.