Has got me thinking of what kind of maintenance does the gas supply to my
house require?

It was my impression that I am responsible for everything that exits the
meter - piping and the works, but the gas company is responsible for the
meter and everything that feeds it. As a homeowner should I periodically
test valves, inspect pipe fittings, purge the system or anything else like
that?

One of my friends at the rifle range happens to be a field engineer and
inspector for the local gas company and he recommends getting the meter set
changed out or inspected when work is done to the bonding of the electrical
panel. Arguably a person would only do that once in the life of the home so
I believe he was referring to the fact that typically a different meter
hookup is used in houses that don't have grounding installed and when
grounding is installed the meter hookup needs to be changed to protect the
cathodic protection the gas company has on their lines.

But back to my main question. If I see visible corrosion and pitting on my
gas lines would I be advised to contact the gas company and/or simply
replace the lines

Eigenvector wrote:
Has got me thinking of what kind of maintenance does the gas supply to my
house require?

It was my impression that I am responsible for everything that exits the
meter - piping and the works, but the gas company is responsible for the
meter and everything that feeds it. As a homeowner should I periodically
test valves, inspect pipe fittings, purge the system or anything else like
that?
....
But back to my main question. If I see visible corrosion and pitting on my
gas lines would I be advised to contact the gas company and/or simply
replace the lines

Where would you be seeing this corrosion? IMO, what is needed is simply
a periodic (they do once every other year here) scan w/ the gas detector
looking for minute leaks in the service entrance and supply
lines/valves, etc.

I personally have never done a test/exercise of a gas valve to the water
heater, for example.

I don't know about individual house meter hookups, our feed comes
straight from a main (8" diam) collection pipeline and the tap/meter is
out in the pasture about a half-mile from the house so can't comment on
that. (Was no meter until a few years ago when the original pipeline
company was sold and the original landowner/right-away agreements were
no longer honored and we lost in court... )

--

Eigenvector wrote:
Has got me thinking of what kind of maintenance does the gas supply
to my house require?

But back to my main question. If I see visible corrosion and pitting
on my gas lines would I be advised to contact the gas company and/or
simply replace the lines

Dickin' with the gas lines significantly increases your risk over just
leaving them alone.

"HeyBub" wrote in message
...
Eigenvector wrote:
Has got me thinking of what kind of maintenance does the gas supply
to my house require?

But back to my main question. If I see visible corrosion and pitting
on my gas lines would I be advised to contact the gas company and/or
simply replace the lines

Dickin' with the gas lines significantly increases your risk over just
leaving them alone.

Well I guess that's pretty straight to the point.

On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:31:40 -0700, "Eigenvector"
wrote:

Has got me thinking of what kind of maintenance does the gas supply to my
house require?

It was my impression that I am responsible for everything that exits the
meter - piping and the works, but the gas company is responsible for the
meter and everything that feeds it. As a homeowner should I periodically
test valves, inspect pipe fittings, purge the system or anything else like
that?

One of my friends at the rifle range happens to be a field engineer and
inspector for the local gas company and he recommends getting the meter set
changed out or inspected when work is done to the bonding of the electrical
panel. Arguably a person would only do that once in the life of the home so
I believe he was referring to the fact that typically a different meter
hookup is used in houses that don't have grounding installed and when
grounding is installed the meter hookup needs to be changed to protect the
cathodic protection the gas company has on their lines.

But back to my main question. If I see visible corrosion and pitting on my
gas lines would I be advised to contact the gas company and/or simply
replace the lines


If they are after the meter, it's YOU that is responsible for them.
If the pitting is deep, replace them, if it's just surface rust, wire
brush or sand the rust off and paint them with a rust preventative
paint such as Rustoleum. Just use black since gas pipe is always
black.

wrote:
On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:31:40 -0700, "Eigenvector"
wrote:


Has got me thinking of what kind of maintenance does the gas supply to my
house require?

It was my impression that I am responsible for everything that exits the
meter - piping and the works, but the gas company is responsible for the
meter and everything that feeds it. As a homeowner should I periodically
test valves, inspect pipe fittings, purge the system or anything else like
that?

One of my friends at the rifle range happens to be a field engineer and
inspector for the local gas company and he recommends getting the meter set
changed out or inspected when work is done to the bonding of the electrical
panel. Arguably a person would only do that once in the life of the home so
I believe he was referring to the fact that typically a different meter
hookup is used in houses that don't have grounding installed and when
grounding is installed the meter hookup needs to be changed to protect the
cathodic protection the gas company has on their lines.

But back to my main question. If I see visible corrosion and pitting on my
gas lines would I be advised to contact the gas company and/or simply
replace the lines



If they are after the meter, it's YOU that is responsible for them.
If the pitting is deep, replace them, if it's just surface rust, wire
brush or sand the rust off and paint them with a rust preventative
paint such as Rustoleum. Just use black since gas pipe is always
black.


Actually in most places where the gas pipe is painted, it's painted
yellow for some reason.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

On Mon, 11 Jun 2007 06:24:09 -0400, Nate Nagel
wrote:

wrote:
On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:31:40 -0700, "Eigenvector"
wrote:


Has got me thinking of what kind of maintenance does the gas supply to my
house require?

It was my impression that I am responsible for everything that exits the
meter - piping and the works, but the gas company is responsible for the
meter and everything that feeds it. As a homeowner should I periodically
test valves, inspect pipe fittings, purge the system or anything else like
that?

One of my friends at the rifle range happens to be a field engineer and
inspector for the local gas company and he recommends getting the meter set
changed out or inspected when work is done to the bonding of the electrical
panel. Arguably a person would only do that once in the life of the home so
I believe he was referring to the fact that typically a different meter
hookup is used in houses that don't have grounding installed and when
grounding is installed the meter hookup needs to be changed to protect the
cathodic protection the gas company has on their lines.

But back to my main question. If I see visible corrosion and pitting on my
gas lines would I be advised to contact the gas company and/or simply
replace the lines



If they are after the meter, it's YOU that is responsible for them.
If the pitting is deep, replace them, if it's just surface rust, wire
brush or sand the rust off and paint them with a rust preventative
paint such as Rustoleum. Just use black since gas pipe is always
black.


Actually in most places where the gas pipe is painted, it's painted
yellow for some reason.

nate

I've never seen yellow inside the house. The street mains are yellow
though. In the house it's always been black iron pipe. Of course
this may be some new trend that I have not seen.

The most dangerous parts of gas pipes are those flexible pipes behind
a stove or water heater, and heaven forbid the aluminum tubing once
used. When I was in my teens, we had one of those alum tubes going to
our clothes dryer. It developed a small hairline crack and my dad
just applied some epoxy to the pipe. To me that was not safe. I had
a friend who'd father was a plumber so I asked that father. He told
me to tell my dad to shut off the gas till he replaces it. My dad
hired the guy to replace it. I was young, but that glued leaky pipe
seemed really bad to me.

wrote:
On Mon, 11 Jun 2007 06:24:09 -0400, Nate Nagel
wrote:


wrote:

On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:31:40 -0700, "Eigenvector"
wrote:



Has got me thinking of what kind of maintenance does the gas supply to my
house require?

It was my impression that I am responsible for everything that exits the
meter - piping and the works, but the gas company is responsible for the
meter and everything that feeds it. As a homeowner should I periodically
test valves, inspect pipe fittings, purge the system or anything else like
that?

One of my friends at the rifle range happens to be a field engineer and
inspector for the local gas company and he recommends getting the meter set
changed out or inspected when work is done to the bonding of the electrical
panel. Arguably a person would only do that once in the life of the home so
I believe he was referring to the fact that typically a different meter
hookup is used in houses that don't have grounding installed and when
grounding is installed the meter hookup needs to be changed to protect the
cathodic protection the gas company has on their lines.

But back to my main question. If I see visible corrosion and pitting on my
gas lines would I be advised to contact the gas company and/or simply
replace the lines



If they are after the meter, it's YOU that is responsible for them.
If the pitting is deep, replace them, if it's just surface rust, wire
brush or sand the rust off and paint them with a rust preventative
paint such as Rustoleum. Just use black since gas pipe is always
black.


Actually in most places where the gas pipe is painted, it's painted
yellow for some reason.

nate


I've never seen yellow inside the house. The street mains are yellow
though. In the house it's always been black iron pipe. Of course
this may be some new trend that I have not seen.

The most dangerous parts of gas pipes are those flexible pipes behind
a stove or water heater, and heaven forbid the aluminum tubing once
used. When I was in my teens, we had one of those alum tubes going to
our clothes dryer. It developed a small hairline crack and my dad
just applied some epoxy to the pipe. To me that was not safe. I had
a friend who'd father was a plumber so I asked that father. He told
me to tell my dad to shut off the gas till he replaces it. My dad
hired the guy to replace it. I was young, but that glued leaky pipe
seemed really bad to me.

I don't know if it is common in a residential app. I agree that most
gas piping is simply black iron pipe. In a commercial setting where the
install specs call for piping to be painted however, usually in a school
building, it's always yellow.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

"Eigenvector" wrote in message
. ..
Has got me thinking of what kind of maintenance does the gas supply to my
house require?

It was my impression that I am responsible for everything that exits the
meter - piping and the works, but the gas company is responsible for the
meter and everything that feeds it.


Maybe. However I believe at least in some areas you are responsible
from the curb shut off in. The meter is theirs and you don't mess with it,
but replacement or repairs may be on you.

I suggest you contact your local supplier. They may well have
information for you. I'll also bet they will offer you an overpriced
insurance/maintenance policy.


--

Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

Odd this came up here. Every few years I paint my meter and pipes rust
oleum forest green, to protect it and keep it looking good. the pipes
are at least 35 years old. around here your responsible from the curb
valve, and everything in your home.

say you have a minor leak and call the gas company. they come and
detect the leak and red tag your home, no service tll a plumber fixes
leak and pressure tests home.

now normal pressure is very low, a few ounces,

pressure test is 75 POUNDS

basically a indoor pressure test here means you rip out ALL the lines
and generally its easier to just replace them all, since there are
some grandfathered fittings that arent legal today... in 1950 they
were normal.....

I plan on buying enough paint to do a friends home, she is on a fixed
income and the meter connections are turning into a ball of rust.
looks bad too right on front of home.

some stuff is easier maintained than replaced. if I hadnt been
occasionally painting those pipes they would of certinally rotted away
by now, replacing entrance line here is 3500 hundred bucks

incidently most gas explosions are from the gas company mains, not
peoples homes.

in your house its so stinky you know immediately you have a problem
and take care of it.

I have reported repeatedly a exposed gas company line in a field that
was leaking bad. met the service guy there once. line was hissing.

he said he would add it to the list, leaks were common and to not
worry about it.

as a child i lived by a major gas explosion in crafton pa. many died
that day and since i liked watching them work it could of been me.
explosion destroyed a big chunk of buildings. the area still looks
different today

"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...


"Eigenvector" wrote in message
. ..
Has got me thinking of what kind of maintenance does the gas supply to my
house require?

It was my impression that I am responsible for everything that exits the
meter - piping and the works, but the gas company is responsible for the
meter and everything that feeds it.


Maybe. However I believe at least in some areas you are responsible
from the curb shut off in. The meter is theirs and you don't mess with
it, but replacement or repairs may be on you.

I suggest you contact your local supplier. They may well have
information for you. I'll also bet they will offer you an overpriced
insurance/maintenance policy.


--

Joseph Meehan


I've never actually seen the curb shut off. There is a locking valve at the
meter, but after that it disappears into the ground never to be seen again.