Have you wondered why Do-It-Yourself customers at Home Depot are allowed to do gas piping in their own home?
I have seen people bewildered on what to buy and what to do.
For example:
A guy was buying pipe and fittings, to fix a natural gas problem in his house. I know this, because he was discussing this pipe-job with his partner.
The first thing I noticed was 45 degree elbows, galvanized nipples, and Teflon® tape. All of which are illegal in most places in my area.
I kept to myself. I didn't want to be rude and butt into somebody's conversation.
Teflon® Tape can clog an oriface, thus a malfunctioning boiler furnace or hot water tank.
45 degree elbows do not "give" or twist, if under any type of strain. A 90 degree will.
Galvanized metal will react to gas and deterioate, mainly inside of the pie, causing failure of the pipe, but mainly causing internal malfunctioning of the equipment.
Some places forbid cast iron fittings. They usually require malible iron.
2007-01-27 15:43:02 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
A homeowner can do just about anything without getting caught. Unfortunately, the subsequent, or possibly the current resident, will pay the price for "bad" installations. The people at HD,Lowe's, etc. are not professionals and should not be regarded as such.
I use Teflon tape, personally, and recommend it. The key is to get it on the threads and not in the pathway. I have also seen the gas company use galvanized pipe on their installations. This leads me to believe that, over the long term, it must be O.K. Apparently, that's what the "drip leg" is for.
2007-01-27 16:46:56 · answer #1 · answered by LoneWolf 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The codes: Regulations and rules are different everywhere you go. Recently in a Southwester city telephone repairmen were vying for electrical wiring jobs on a new home project I was on. I found out there was no building code for electricians and if you could wire a switch, you were allowed to wire a house.
It was the same with the plumbing. Home Depot is just taking advantage of this and, maybe doing everyone a favor buy at least giving them some instructions on "how to"
Besides all this, a home owner is allowed to do anything he wants, without getting caught of course and, if his insurance agent doesn't find out.
2007-01-27 22:16:17 · answer #2 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Home Depot and Lowes hire some good people and some real morons...problem is, if you know nothing about what you are trying to do, how can you tell if the advice you are given is right or not? As far as customers working on projects that they have no business working on...there are some people that just have to learn the hard way. If you don't have the knowledge, tools or skills to do something, why would you attempt it? Money?...one mistake can cost you much more than what you saved. If your budget is tight...call around, alot if necessary, but don't mess with something you know nothing about.
2007-01-27 20:50:18 · answer #3 · answered by cajunman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why wouldn't you just say you overheard his conversation and if you are in the know about gas fittings like you appear to be, give him the information you just supplied here. Tell him it's extremely dangerous for a unqualified person to do these repairs. That's not being rude it's being conscientious. Ignorance can kill not just you but a whole lot others. I am always glad if someone can help me out with information on the right way to do something, although I would never be stupid enough to attempt something as dangerous as repairing a gas line.
2007-01-27 16:47:39 · answer #4 · answered by lookwid 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It HIS HOME HE CAN DO WHAT HE WANTS WITH IT. because of people like you that make the fredom in this country not worth fighting for.
2007-01-28 05:14:38 · answer #5 · answered by derek48316 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋