I will be installing quite a bit of copper tubing. Probably a 60' run of
3/8" hi-pressure run and several normal pressure 1/2" runs in the
neighborhood of 50-75 feet and possibly a 3/4" run of 25 feet or so (large
tankless water heater).
Wondering if there is a lower cost do-it-yourself alternative to copper
tubing. I installed underground plastic tube supplied by LPG dealer and they
came out to install the fittings and terminate it to the tank and regulator.
They way I get it the plastic fitting is a proprietary system that requires
some special connectors, tools and training. Even if this stuff was adequate
for indoors use, by the time I paid for the tube, fittings and the service
man to install all the connectors I'm back at the price of copper.

Black iron. But you'll need to rent a threader and cutter.

s


"Jeff Dieterle" wrote in message
...
I will be installing quite a bit of copper tubing. Probably a 60' run of
3/8" hi-pressure run and several normal pressure 1/2" runs in the
neighborhood of 50-75 feet and possibly a 3/4" run of 25 feet or so (large
tankless water heater).
Wondering if there is a lower cost do-it-yourself alternative to copper
tubing. I installed underground plastic tube supplied by LPG dealer and
they came out to install the fittings and terminate it to the tank and
regulator. They way I get it the plastic fitting is a proprietary system
that requires some special connectors, tools and training. Even if this
stuff was adequate for indoors use, by the time I paid for the tube,
fittings and the service man to install all the connectors I'm back at the
price of copper.

Jeff Dieterle wrote:
I will be installing quite a bit of copper tubing. Probably a 60' run of
3/8" hi-pressure run and several normal pressure 1/2" runs in the
neighborhood of 50-75 feet and possibly a 3/4" run of 25 feet or so (large
tankless water heater).
Wondering if there is a lower cost do-it-yourself alternative to copper
tubing. I installed underground plastic tube supplied by LPG dealer and they
came out to install the fittings and terminate it to the tank and regulator.
They way I get it the plastic fitting is a proprietary system that requires
some special connectors, tools and training. Even if this stuff was adequate
for indoors use, by the time I paid for the tube, fittings and the service
man to install all the connectors I'm back at the price of copper.


I used black pipe for a similar project. Cutting/threading is easy when
using those sizes.

On Apr 7, 11:11*am, "S. Barker" wrote:
Black iron. *But you'll need to rent a threader and cutter.

snip

Good idea, but check rental prices first, For what our local store
charges, the bargain tools at Harbor Freight will be cheaper if the
project takes a few days.

Joe

good point, and especially if you think you'll ever need it again. I bought
my rigid threader on ebay for about $100 with 5 dies, and 2 cutters.

I wouldn't buy a dog turd from HF.

s


"Joe" wrote in message
...
On Apr 7, 11:11 am, "S. Barker" wrote:
Black iron. But you'll need to rent a threader and cutter.

snip

Good idea, but check rental prices first, For what our local store
charges, the bargain tools at Harbor Freight will be cheaper if the
project takes a few days.

Joe

"S. Barker" wrote in message
...
Black iron. But you'll need to rent a threader and cutter.

s


My local hardware store sells the pipe and also cuts and threads it.

Don Young

"Jeff Dieterle" wrote in message
...
I will be installing quite a bit of copper tubing. Probably a 60' run of
3/8" hi-pressure run and several normal pressure 1/2" runs in the
neighborhood of 50-75 feet and possibly a 3/4" run of 25 feet or so (large
tankless water heater).
Wondering if there is a lower cost do-it-yourself alternative to copper
tubing. I installed underground plastic tube supplied by LPG dealer and
they came out to install the fittings and terminate it to the tank and
regulator. They way I get it the plastic fitting is a proprietary system
that requires some special connectors, tools and training. Even if this
stuff was adequate for indoors use, by the time I paid for the tube,
fittings and the service man to install all the connectors I'm back at
the price of copper.

Maybe I'm mistaken but I thought I read somewhere the black pipe was not
recommended for LPG, however it is ok for natural gas.

"George" wrote in message
. ..
Jeff Dieterle wrote:
I will be installing quite a bit of copper tubing. Probably a 60' run of
3/8" hi-pressure run and several normal pressure 1/2" runs in the
neighborhood of 50-75 feet and possibly a 3/4" run of 25 feet or so
(large tankless water heater).
Wondering if there is a lower cost do-it-yourself alternative to copper
tubing. I installed underground plastic tube supplied by LPG dealer and
they came out to install the fittings and terminate it to the tank and
regulator. They way I get it the plastic fitting is a proprietary system
that requires some special connectors, tools and training. Even if this
stuff was adequate for indoors use, by the time I paid for the tube,
fittings and the service man to install all the connectors I'm back at
the price of copper.
I used black pipe for a similar project. Cutting/threading is easy when
using those sizes.

Yes, you are mistaken.

s


"Jeff Dieterle" wrote in message
...
Maybe I'm mistaken but I thought I read somewhere the black pipe was not
recommended for LPG, however it is ok for natural gas.

"George" wrote in message
. ..
Jeff Dieterle wrote:
I will be installing quite a bit of copper tubing. Probably a 60' run of
3/8" hi-pressure run and several normal pressure 1/2" runs in the
neighborhood of 50-75 feet and possibly a 3/4" run of 25 feet or so
(large tankless water heater).
Wondering if there is a lower cost do-it-yourself alternative to copper
tubing. I installed underground plastic tube supplied by LPG dealer and
they came out to install the fittings and terminate it to the tank and
regulator. They way I get it the plastic fitting is a proprietary system
that requires some special connectors, tools and training. Even if this
stuff was adequate for indoors use, by the time I paid for the tube,
fittings and the service man to install all the connectors I'm back at
the price of copper.
I used black pipe for a similar project. Cutting/threading is easy when
using those sizes.

galvanized is strictly not recommended. It's not against code, but it can
'flake' and plug orifices.

s


wrote in message
...
On Tue, 8 Apr 2008 09:42:27 -0500, "S. Barker"
wrote:


"Jeff Dieterle" wrote in message
...
Maybe I'm mistaken but I thought I read somewhere the black pipe was not
recommended for LPG, however it is ok for natural gas.

Yes, you are mistaken.



I still don't see it used in Florida. LPG is piped with plastic
underground and copper inside or galvanized outside above ground on
the low pressure side of the regulator.

S. Barker wrote:
....top posting repaired...

....
"Jeff Dieterle" wrote in message
...
...black pipe was not recommended for LPG, ...
....
I still don't see it used in Florida. LPG is piped with plastic
underground and copper inside or galvanized outside above ground on
the low pressure side of the regulator.

galvanized is strictly not recommended. It's not against code, but it
can 'flake' and plug orifices.

Some local codes, at least, do prohibit galvanized...

Recently there have been some studies that indicate that usage isn't as
much an issue as was one time thought (zinc reaction w/ trace
contaminants) but other data I've seen indicate that w/ more imported
gas and domestic supplies becoming more limited that those issues may
becoming more significant again...

Overall, I'd recommend against it (galvanized, that is) simply on basis
of long-time precedent irregardless of local code on the issue for
either NG or LP or LNG.

--

wrote:
....

I don't suppose pipe rusts in your area

Of course it does, but it's less of an issue than galvanized in contact
w/ certain contaminants in gas, hence the historic proscription. I've
heard the flaking and orifice theory before as well, but never found it
codified for that specific reason (that's only saying I'm unaware of
where to find it written, not that it hasn't been).

--

dpb wrote:
wrote:
...

I don't suppose pipe rusts in your area

Of course it does, but it's less of an issue than galvanized in contact
w/ certain contaminants in gas, hence the historic proscription. ...

And, of course, the previous recommendation was _only_ wrt to black over
galvanized, specifically, not any other possible alternatives.

--

wrote:
...

I don't suppose pipe rusts in your area

Of course it does, but it's less of an issue than galvanized in contact w/
certain contaminants in gas,

Here is what I used for mine..its a pale pastel green pipe-coating..I bought
it in threaded lengths from a local plumbimg supply dealer. Local codes
also insisted on a black tape-wrap for the underground portion.

R

Jeff Dieterle wrote:
I will be installing quite a bit of copper tubing. Probably a 60' run of
3/8" hi-pressure run and several normal pressure 1/2" runs in the
neighborhood of 50-75 feet and possibly a 3/4" run of 25 feet or so (large
tankless water heater).
Wondering if there is a lower cost do-it-yourself alternative to copper
tubing. I installed underground plastic tube supplied by LPG dealer and they
came out to install the fittings and terminate it to the tank and regulator.
They way I get it the plastic fitting is a proprietary system that requires
some special connectors, tools and training. Even if this stuff was adequate
for indoors use, by the time I paid for the tube, fittings and the service
man to install all the connectors I'm back at the price of copper.


I'm suprised no one mentioned CSST (corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing).
With the high price of copper, it's worth looking into.

wrote:
....

The gas companies in SW Fla seem to have overcome those problems. In
fact the factory pipe in my pool heater is galvanized.

I said it was historic and that there were some recent reports
indicating it was less of a problem than some earlier data had implied.
As with anything else, new information eventually supercedes older.

Some of us old fogey's stay w/ what we were taught...I doubt I'll ever
get over the rule.

--

wrote:
On Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:36:00 -0500, dpb wrote:

wrote:
...

The gas companies in SW Fla seem to have overcome those problems. In
fact the factory pipe in my pool heater is galvanized.
I said it was historic and that there were some recent reports
indicating it was less of a problem than some earlier data had implied.
As with anything else, new information eventually supercedes older.

Some of us old fogey's stay w/ what we were taught...I doubt I'll ever
get over the rule.

It could be as simple as they improved the galvanizing process so they
don't flake anymore but you do put a trap in a gas line right before
the appliance anyway (that dead end on the last "T")

Again the flaking wasn't the major issue in anything I'm aware of--it
was contaminants in the gas react w/ the Zn in the galvanize to cause
premature failure by corrosion.

--