Propane gas lines

[VALENT]

I am building a new house and need to know what is the best material for the propane gas lines through out the house.

[Rich]

Black pipe is what I've always used. I'm sure there are easier items like plastic pipe.

[Tom R]

I would use black pipe with galvanized fittings. The black fittings have a higher 'failure' rate (hairline cracks) than the galvo's.

[VALENT]

Black pipe was what I figured. But, what about the coiled copper lines that I see. By coiled, I mean they are sold in 100 ft lengths and then compression fittings are used. What is their use?

[Rich]

Long straight runs - typically used for water supply. We just got done running 2" copper over 380' for water service. Not sure if copper is rated for gas.

[Sparks]

Around here you can use soft copper with flare fittings. Of course you still need the shut-off, union and dirt leg to meet code.

[VALENT]

Rich, so this kind of copper is good, excellent or fair for use as water line. As compared to regular copper?

[Rich]

For service runs to the house it's good.. but running inside walls I wouldn't recommend - it's too easily kinked.

[VALENT]

THANK YOU!

[Dragon]

For service runs to the house it's good.. but running inside walls I wouldn't recommend - it's too easily kinked.

Or otherwise damaged. I've tagged a copper pipe with a trim gun once or twice.

Propane is heavier than air, unlike natural gas. Meaning if you have a leak it will pool in low areas. One spark and you have an explosion.

Please use black pipe.

[VALENT]

thanks, i probably will (98%)

[robby]

My builder is using Gastite® flexible gas piping (http://www.gastite.com/). It's flexible corrugated stainless steel with a polyethylene jacket.

Has anybody had any experience with this. Is it OK?

[kadoka]

I've been told that around here they just use copper.

[midnightscape]

As some probably saw from my post in "horror stories" they used copper to run from my tank to the house and throughout the house as well.

[Rich]

We're using black pipe throughout the whole house.

[Vector]

There is copper that is rated for gas, but it's use is severely depreciated, and in some places, flat out not allowed. I've used some for a very temporary hookup to a ventless heater, but I'd never run it permanently.

[roger g]

Up here you can use copper BUT it must be specially rated for gas. This is a new thing but apparently some gray sludge has been attributed to copper tubing so now we must use this special stuff. It looks identical but is rated differntly. We used to run refrigeration copper and it was great, one job we would do a/c instals and the next job we would run gas line with the same tubing.
I personally would use black pipe on a new install. Copper is okay in renovations where it is sometimes impossible to run black pipe. Another thing I do is to size the pipe for natural gas ( which is bigger) then if natural gas ever comes to you area you are prepaRED. I have done houses who never dreamed that natural gas would ever come to their area and when it did, their now hidden propane lines were way too small and couldn't be upgraded without demolishing half the house.


roger

[Sparks]

Gastite flex pipe is used alot around here. You have to take the training class in order to buy it. Copper also used alot as`well as black pipe. Obviously, alot depends on the quality of the installation. Of course I would use nothing but black pipe in my own house cause it's almost bulletproof in my book.

[JCA]

We use Gastite or Titeflex CSST flexible pipe 95% of the time. This way we can run very long lines through walls etc. with no joints. It's much easier to install then black pipe. Also, here in NC galvanized fittings and pipe are not approved with gas. I've used it for 10 years and never had any problems with it. We just ran about 500' of it in a new house (10,000 sq. ft. 2,000,000 BTU demand)about a week ago. I use black pipe or copper outside houses and plastic or copper underground.

[Sparks]

:( 2,000,000 btu demand.. So much for perserving natural resources.

[JCA]

tell me about it, thats the largest I've ever done.