Natural gas line shutoff (Mart, Happy: house, purchase, inspection)

[fortitude82]

Hello,

I have a natural gas line installed in patio. I am planning to purchase a natural gas grill but I notice the line does not have a shutoff mechanism/regulator. There is also a gas line in the laundry room for the dryer that I don't use, but unlike the patio line, this one has a shutoff mechanism. My house is still under warranty with the builder, AWH. Is this something builder should have installed or are they only required to install the line. We did pay for the extra connection in the patio so I would expect the builder to have covered it.

Any thoughts / comments would be appreciated!

Happy Friday!

[PedroMartinez]

IMHO, there should be a cutoff, and it would surprise me if it was not code.

Your grill itself will have a regulator on it, and, more than likely, you have a low pressure (half pound) meter going into your house.

I'd definitely ask the builder why there was no cutoff.

Do you know if the line going to the patio terminates back the manifold where the meter is, or does it go to another line? If it goes back to the gas manifold (usually on the side of the house), that is where they normally put the cutoffs.

Edit: Here is a photo of the cutoffs on the side of the house:

[PedroMartinez]

It's nice not having to fill propane bottles that is for sure.

Here is a photo of my Weber plugged into the gas outlet I put on the side of my garage.

[Tech443]

Originally Posted by PedroMartinez

IMHO, there should be a cutoff, and it would surprise me if it was not code.

Your grill itself will have a regulator on it, and, more than likely, you have a low pressure (half pound) meter going into your house.

I'd definitely ask the builder why there was no cutoff.

Do you know if the line going to the patio terminates back the manifold where the meter is, or does it go to another line? If it goes back to the gas manifold (usually on the side of the house), that is where they normally put the cutoffs.

Edit: Here is a photo of the cutoffs on the side of the house:

Using copper pipe for natural gas hook up inside a dwelling is not up to code.

The reason is that the sulfur in natural gas will cause the copper to flake from the inside of the pipe clogging gas orifices, which can lead to unsafe operating conditions of the appliance up to and including destroying the appliance.

Black steel gas pipe is only code approved pipe and most localities require a licensed plumber to run it.

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by Tech443

Using copper pipe for natural gas hook up inside a dwelling is not up to code.

The reason is that the sulfur in natural gas will cause the copper to flake from the inside of the pipe clogging gas orifices, which can lead to unsafe operating conditions of the appliance up to and including destroying the appliance.

Black steel gas pipe is only code approved pipe and most localities require a licensed plumber to run it.

That's not my hookup. All my lines run in the yellow tube and hook up to NG risers to galvanized steel.

I just found that picture on the internet to show him what the gas shutoffs might look like.

[Hangster]

We have the gas line installed on the patio in all of our homes and yes they should all have a shut off valve. I am surprised it would pass inspection without a shut off valve.