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Then it is HIGHLY unlikely that the gas pipe will be run UPWARD
(from the ground level where it enters the house).
I have no idea why you would say that. It's very likely; especially if the utility closet isn't on an exterior wall. The obvious route would be "up" an exterior wall where the meter is located, and then run through a joist cavity to the utility closet then drop down to supply those appliances- as the OP's picture tends to indicate.
Those appliances are usually the first branch because of demand, then any other appliances or sources- range, firplace, dryer, etc.
Which way a line runs doesn't really matter, as long as the service point has a sediment trap its good.
The obvious route would be "up" an exterior wall where the meter is located, and then run through a joist cavity to the utility closet then drop down to supply those appliances- as the OP's picture tends to indicate.
Yes, I think this is the gas piping setup in my place. It runs from an exterior wall, over a 320-square-foot room, then down into the utility closet. If the leak is in the piping in the joist cavity, how would someone pinpoint exactly where the leak is? How would you know where to cut through the ceiling to fix it? Yes, my detector sensed gas up the hole where the piping drops down into the utility closet, but what if that's residual gas from a leak at a fitting further along the joist cavity?
(On a side note, the local energy company never mentioned the possibility of a leak from unexposed piping. They have not been helpful in resolving the recurring gas smell.)
Last edited by CelineMarie; 09-21-2013 at 05:39 PM..
Yes, I think this is the gas piping setup in my place. It runs from an exterior wall, over a 320-square-foot room, then down into the utility closet. If the leak is in the piping in the joist cavity, how would someone pinpoint exactly where the leak is? How would you know where to cut through the ceiling to fix it? Yes, my detector sensed gas up the hole where the piping drops down into the utility closet, but what if that's residual gas from a leak at a fitting further along the joist cavity?
(On a side note, the local energy company never mentioned the possibility of a leak from unexposed piping. They have not been helpful in resolving the recurring gas smell.)
Then your next call is the city/county/state public utility commission to file a complaint ( or call in the local fire dept but that may risk them declaring the building "uninhabitable", and you would have to move out until repaired.)
BTW, do you own or rent ?? If rent, where is the landlord in all of this ??
Also, the utility co. should have video cameras they can snake into the opening to have a look.
When gas pipes are first installed in a building, they cap the ends, one end with a pressure gauge, then pump air into the pipe under pressure. Then they wait for a day or so and check the pressure on the gauge. If it is the same pressure, then there is no leak in the pipe.
Perhaps you could have that done to check the pipe? See if the pipe is the problem or if it is an appliance.
As for gas appliances in a utility room, these need to vent to the roof. Exhaust air needs to flow upwards (draft). And for that to happen air needs to be able to flow into the room from an air vent. So check to be sure you have an open air vent to that room and air can flow. And that the roof vent is not clogged by a birds nest or something.
Then some furnaces light the fire electronically. If that is not working good, it can give off a gas smell.
I did get a pressure test, which -- finally -- found two leaks. When the plumber first came, he squirted bubble solution on all the joints. As usual, nothing bubbled. But after he hooked up a tank of nitrogen to the gas pipes outside at the meter, which forced 11 pounds of pressure into the pipes, the solution did bubble at two joints of exposed pipes. He tightened the fittings there, and the pressure reading then held steady, indicating no leaks. I have smelled no gas since then (a week ago). Apparently the gas escaping at the leaks was enough to stink, but not enough to make the solution bubble.
He also said that perhaps the reason I smelled gas sometime and not others is because the metal pipes can expand and contract with temperature changes.
Anyway I'm so relieved to finally have this resolved.
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