I want to clean out the vent in my gas dryer. To really do that well,
I have to move it away from the wall.

To do _that_, sounds like I need to disconnect the gas line, and then
reconnect when done. Is that really a big deal? There's all sorts of
advice on how to do it on the web, e.g. in this USENET group at
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.h...04b82494a3eef1

Doesn't sound like a big deal. I'm not that experienced but am pretty
handy and careful, so I figure calling a plumber would be a waste of
money, but wanted to hear what you guys had to say.

That being said, there _was_ an incident around here (suburb of Wash
DC) where some guy blew his house to bits a few months ago. But I
think he was actually putting in the line to the dryer himself.

On 10/14/2011 1:39 PM, woger151 wrote:
I want to clean out the vent in my gas dryer. To really do that well,
I have to move it away from the wall.

To do _that_, sounds like I need to disconnect the gas line, and then
reconnect when done. Is that really a big deal? There's all sorts of
advice on how to do it on the web, e.g. in this USENET group at
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.h...04b82494a3eef1

Doesn't sound like a big deal. I'm not that experienced but am pretty
handy and careful, so I figure calling a plumber would be a waste of
money, but wanted to hear what you guys had to say.

That being said, there _was_ an incident around here (suburb of Wash
DC) where some guy blew his house to bits a few months ago. But I
think he was actually putting in the line to the dryer himself.

Not a big deal at all unless you don't have a valve at the appliance.
Just make sure to turn off the valve before you start and it is a piece
of cake. I will assume that your dryer has an electronic ignition, so
no pilot lights to relight.

If you DON'T have a valve at the appliance, then you have to shut off
the gas to the house, then relight all of your pilots after you turn it
back on. It would be a good time to install a valve at the dryer when
you turn off the gas.

--
Robert Allison
New Braunfels, TX

On Oct 14, 2:39*pm, woger151 wrote:
I want to clean out the vent in my gas dryer. *To really do that well,
I have to move it away from the wall.

To do _that_, sounds like I need to disconnect the gas line, and then
reconnect when done. *Is that really a big deal? *There's all sorts of
advice on how to do it on the web, e.g. in this USENET group at
* *http://groups.google.com/group/alt.h...rm/thread/6afa...

Doesn't sound like a big deal. *I'm not that experienced but am pretty
handy and careful, so I figure calling a plumber would be a waste of
money, but wanted to hear what you guys had to say.

That being said, there _was_ an incident around here (suburb of Wash
DC) where some guy blew his house to bits a few months ago. *But I
think he was actually putting in the line to the dryer himself.

around here most gas dryers and stoves use flexible lines, so unplug
dryer pull it out gently, disconnect exhaust line, vacuumn interior of
dryer .......

to ckean the exhaust line i prefer to connect the dryer exhaust line
to the output of my 5hp shop vac.

wrap rags to seal line, turn on vacuumn, see big cloud of dryer dust
in air

Robert Allison wrote:

Not a big deal at all unless you don't have a valve at the appliance.
Just make sure to turn off the valve before you start and it is a
piece of cake. I will assume that your dryer has an electronic
ignition, so no pilot lights to relight.

If you DON'T have a valve at the appliance, then you have to shut off
the gas to the house, then relight all of your pilots after you turn
it back on. It would be a good time to install a valve at the dryer
when you turn off the gas.

Not really if you have a cap at hand for the pipe. Disconnect the dryer and
screw on the cap. The amount of gas that escapes from the line is piddly.
You can hold your thumb over the pipe while you screw around with getting
the cap out of the package with your other hand, the pressure is about
2oz/sq in.

Admittedly, this is not the best way to address the problem, but at least
you won't have to muck about re-lighting pilot lights.

On Oct 14, 2:45*pm, Robert Allison wrote:
On 10/14/2011 1:39 PM, woger151 wrote:

I want to clean out the vent in my gas dryer. *To really do that well,
I have to move it away from the wall.

To do _that_, sounds like I need to disconnect the gas line, and then
reconnect when done. *Is that really a big deal? *There's all sorts of
advice on how to do it on the web, e.g. in this USENET group at
* * *http://groups.google.com/group/alt.h...rm/thread/6afa...

Doesn't sound like a big deal. *I'm not that experienced but am pretty
handy and careful, so I figure calling a plumber would be a waste of
money, but wanted to hear what you guys had to say.

That being said, there _was_ an incident around here (suburb of Wash
DC) where some guy blew his house to bits a few months ago. *But I
think he was actually putting in the line to the dryer himself.

Not a big deal at all unless you don't have a valve at the appliance.
Just make sure to turn off the valve before you start and it is a piece
of cake. *I will assume that your dryer has an electronic ignition, so
no pilot lights to relight.

If you DON'T have a valve at the appliance, then you have to shut off
the gas to the house, then relight all of your pilots after you turn it
back on. *It would be a good time to install a valve at the dryer when
you turn off the gas.

--
Robert Allison
New Braunfels, TX

"If you DON'T have a valve at the appliance, then you have to shut
off the gas to the house"

Be careful how you word that...there could be a subtle issue at play
here.

In my house "shut off the gas *to* the house" would mean turning off
the gas at the outside meter, which would mean calling the utilty
company to turn it back on.

However, I can leave the gas "to the house" on and turn off a main
valve *inside* the house, turning off the gas to all of my appliances.

On Oct 14, 2:57*pm, "HeyBub" wrote:
Robert Allison wrote:

Not a big deal at all unless you don't have a valve at the appliance.
Just make sure to turn off the valve before you start and it is a
piece of cake. *I will assume that your dryer has an electronic
ignition, so no pilot lights to relight.

If you DON'T have a valve at the appliance, then you have to shut off
the gas to the house, then relight all of your pilots after you turn
it back on. *It would be a good time to install a valve at the dryer
when you turn off the gas.

Not really if you have a cap at hand for the pipe. Disconnect the dryer and
screw on the cap. The amount of gas that escapes from the line is piddly.
You can hold your thumb over the pipe while you screw around with getting
the cap out of the package with your other hand, the pressure is about
2oz/sq in.

Admittedly, this is not the best way to address the problem, but at least
you won't have to muck about re-lighting pilot lights.

When I replaced my furnace, we found out that the main shutoff inside
the house turned off the gas to everything except the furnace. We had
to repipe the gas at the furnace since the new furnace's gas valve was
on the opposite side compared to the old one.

It was late on a chilly day by the time we discovered that and didn't
want to shut the gas off at the meter and then have to get the utility
company involved to turn it back on and all that that would entail.

We opened all of the windows and the guy who was doing the piping used
2 caps. He removed the old pipe back to where he had to change
directions and then capped the live section. He then measured for the
next section and put a cap on it. He removed the cap on the live pipe
and installed the new capped section. He continued this method of
uncapping the live line and installing capped sections until he
reached the valve at the furnace.

There was less of a gas smell than you'd get if your pilot light was
out.

On 10/14/2011 1:58 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Oct 14, 2:45 pm, Robert wrote:
On 10/14/2011 1:39 PM, woger151 wrote:

I want to clean out the vent in my gas dryer. To really do that well,
I have to move it away from the wall.

To do _that_, sounds like I need to disconnect the gas line, and then
reconnect when done. Is that really a big deal? There's all sorts of
advice on how to do it on the web, e.g. in this USENET group at
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.h...rm/thread/6afa...

Doesn't sound like a big deal. I'm not that experienced but am pretty
handy and careful, so I figure calling a plumber would be a waste of
money, but wanted to hear what you guys had to say.

That being said, there _was_ an incident around here (suburb of Wash
DC) where some guy blew his house to bits a few months ago. But I
think he was actually putting in the line to the dryer himself.

Not a big deal at all unless you don't have a valve at the appliance.
Just make sure to turn off the valve before you start and it is a piece
of cake. I will assume that your dryer has an electronic ignition, so
no pilot lights to relight.

If you DON'T have a valve at the appliance, then you have to shut off
the gas to the house, then relight all of your pilots after you turn it
back on. It would be a good time to install a valve at the dryer when
you turn off the gas.

--
Robert Allison
New Braunfels, TX

"If you DON'T have a valve at the appliance, then you have to shut
off the gas to the house"

Be careful how you word that...there could be a subtle issue at play
here.

In my house "shut off the gas *to* the house" would mean turning off
the gas at the outside meter, which would mean calling the utilty
company to turn it back on.

However, I can leave the gas "to the house" on and turn off a main
valve *inside* the house, turning off the gas to all of my appliances.


If I have to turn off the gas to the whole house, I have to turn it off
at the meter. When I am done, I turn it back on. Why call the gas company?

--
Robert Allison
New Braunfels, TX

On 10/14/2011 1:57 PM, HeyBub wrote:
Robert Allison wrote:

Not a big deal at all unless you don't have a valve at the appliance.
Just make sure to turn off the valve before you start and it is a
piece of cake. I will assume that your dryer has an electronic
ignition, so no pilot lights to relight.

If you DON'T have a valve at the appliance, then you have to shut off
the gas to the house, then relight all of your pilots after you turn
it back on. It would be a good time to install a valve at the dryer
when you turn off the gas.

Not really if you have a cap at hand for the pipe. Disconnect the dryer and
screw on the cap. The amount of gas that escapes from the line is piddly.
You can hold your thumb over the pipe while you screw around with getting
the cap out of the package with your other hand, the pressure is about
2oz/sq in.

Admittedly, this is not the best way to address the problem, but at least
you won't have to muck about re-lighting pilot lights.



And not advice I would give to anyone that was worried about
disconnecting a gas line to an appliance.

--
Robert Allison
New Braunfels, TX

"HeyBub" wrote in message
m...
Robert Allison wrote:

Not a big deal at all unless you don't have a valve at the appliance.
Just make sure to turn off the valve before you start and it is a
piece of cake. I will assume that your dryer has an electronic
ignition, so no pilot lights to relight.

If you DON'T have a valve at the appliance, then you have to shut off
the gas to the house, then relight all of your pilots after you turn
it back on. It would be a good time to install a valve at the dryer
when you turn off the gas.

Not really if you have a cap at hand for the pipe. Disconnect the dryer
and screw on the cap. The amount of gas that escapes from the line is
piddly. You can hold your thumb over the pipe while you screw around with
getting the cap out of the package with your other hand, the pressure is
about 2oz/sq in.

Admittedly, this is not the best way to address the problem, but at least
you won't have to muck about re-lighting pilot lights.
heybub... Was that your house that blew up??? (grin) ww

I saw a co worker do this, one time. He called it "changing
the valve on the fly". About two minutes later, the lady of
the house was hollering down the stairs about how she could
smell gas.

I've done that kind of thing with natural gas, and it worked
out safely. Put Rectorseal around the male threads, as
you're unscrewing the fitting.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"HeyBub" wrote in message
m...


If you DON'T have a valve at the appliance, then you have
to shut off
the gas to the house, then relight all of your pilots
after you turn
it back on. It would be a good time to install a valve at
the dryer
when you turn off the gas.

Not really if you have a cap at hand for the pipe.
Disconnect the dryer and
screw on the cap. The amount of gas that escapes from the
line is piddly.
You can hold your thumb over the pipe while you screw around
with getting
the cap out of the package with your other hand, the
pressure is about
2oz/sq in.

Admittedly, this is not the best way to address the problem,
but at least
you won't have to muck about re-lighting pilot lights.

Even after shutting the gas valve, the lines are still
pressurized. Need to light a stove burner, or turn up the
water heater until the gas pressure is reduced.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Robert Allison"
wrote in message
b.com...


That being said, there _was_ an incident around here
(suburb of Wash
DC) where some guy blew his house to bits a few months
ago. But I
think he was actually putting in the line to the dryer
himself.

Not a big deal at all unless you don't have a valve at the
appliance.
Just make sure to turn off the valve before you start and it
is a piece
of cake. I will assume that your dryer has an electronic
ignition, so
no pilot lights to relight.

If you DON'T have a valve at the appliance, then you have to
shut off
the gas to the house, then relight all of your pilots after
you turn it
back on. It would be a good time to install a valve at the
dryer when
you turn off the gas.

--
Robert Allison
New Braunfels, TX

Why would you call the gas company for turn on? Takes the
same tool, and much the same technique as turn off. Is that
a legal thing in your area?

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"DerbyDad03" wrote in message
...

Be careful how you word that...there could be a subtle issue
at play
here.

In my house "shut off the gas *to* the house" would mean
turning off
the gas at the outside meter, which would mean calling the
utilty
company to turn it back on.

However, I can leave the gas "to the house" on and turn off
a main
valve *inside* the house, turning off the gas to all of my
appliances.

Is that a procedural thing? I've not heard about this. I've
turned many gas valves off, and turned a similar number of
valves on.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"DerbyDad03"
wrote in message
...

It was late on a chilly day by the time we discovered that
and didn't
want to shut the gas off at the meter and then have to get
the utility
company involved to turn it back on and all that that would
entail.

"woger151" wrote in message
...
I want to clean out the vent in my gas dryer. To really do that well,
I have to move it away from the wall.

To do _that_, sounds like I need to disconnect the gas line, and then
reconnect when done. Is that really a big deal? There's all sorts of
advice on how to do it on the web, e.g. in this USENET group at

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.h...04b82494a3eef1

Doesn't sound like a big deal. I'm not that experienced but am pretty
handy and careful, so I figure calling a plumber would be a waste of
money, but wanted to hear what you guys had to say.

That being said, there _was_ an incident around here (suburb of Wash
DC) where some guy blew his house to bits a few months ago. But I
think he was actually putting in the line to the dryer himself.

Think about getting a flexible gas line.

On Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:33:07 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

Is that a procedural thing? I've not heard about this. I've
turned many gas valves off, and turned a similar number of
valves on.


A couple of years ago, the gas company shut the main line where I work
to do some work on a valve. When they opened it again, they had to
come and check everything inside to be sure pilots were lit and
burners worked.

Sounds like customer service (and a bit of CYA for
liability).

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:33:07 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

Is that a procedural thing? I've not heard about this. I've
turned many gas valves off, and turned a similar number of
valves on.


A couple of years ago, the gas company shut the main line
where I work
to do some work on a valve. When they opened it again, they
had to
come and check everything inside to be sure pilots were lit
and
burners worked.

On Oct 14, 6:02*pm, "MLD" wrote:
"woger151" wrote in message

...





I want to clean out the vent in my gas dryer. *To really do that well,
I have to move it away from the wall.

To do _that_, sounds like I need to disconnect the gas line, and then
reconnect when done. *Is that really a big deal? *There's all sorts of
advice on how to do it on the web, e.g. in this USENET group at

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.h...rm/thread/6afa...

Doesn't sound like a big deal. *I'm not that experienced but am pretty
handy and careful, so I figure calling a plumber would be a waste of
money, but wanted to hear what you guys had to say.

That being said, there _was_ an incident around here (suburb of Wash
DC) where some guy blew his house to bits a few months ago. *But I
think he was actually putting in the line to the dryer himself.

Think about getting a flexible gas line.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Probably has a flex line already. I'd check the condition
of it and if there is any doubt about it's integrity I'd replace
it. They can get kinked, damaged, etc from the dryer being
pushed up against it.

On 10/14/2011 6:02 PM, MLD wrote:

"woger151" wrote in message
...
I want to clean out the vent in my gas dryer. To really do that well,
I have to move it away from the wall.

To do _that_, sounds like I need to disconnect the gas line, and then
reconnect when done. Is that really a big deal? There's all sorts of
advice on how to do it on the web, e.g. in this USENET group at

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.h...04b82494a3eef1


Doesn't sound like a big deal. I'm not that experienced but am pretty
handy and careful, so I figure calling a plumber would be a waste of
money, but wanted to hear what you guys had to say.

That being said, there _was_ an incident around here (suburb of Wash
DC) where some guy blew his house to bits a few months ago. But I
think he was actually putting in the line to the dryer himself.

Think about getting a flexible gas line.

I have never seen a hard piped residential dryer. How would you even
install it in the majority of locations were dryers are installed?

On 10/14/2011 3:50 PM, Robert Allison wrote:
On 10/14/2011 1:57 PM, HeyBub wrote:
Robert Allison wrote:

Not a big deal at all unless you don't have a valve at the appliance.
Just make sure to turn off the valve before you start and it is a
piece of cake. I will assume that your dryer has an electronic
ignition, so no pilot lights to relight.

If you DON'T have a valve at the appliance, then you have to shut off
the gas to the house, then relight all of your pilots after you turn
it back on. It would be a good time to install a valve at the dryer
when you turn off the gas.

Not really if you have a cap at hand for the pipe. Disconnect the
dryer and
screw on the cap. The amount of gas that escapes from the line is piddly.
You can hold your thumb over the pipe while you screw around with getting
the cap out of the package with your other hand, the pressure is about
2oz/sq in.

Admittedly, this is not the best way to address the problem, but at least
you won't have to muck about re-lighting pilot lights.



And not advice I would give to anyone that was worried about
disconnecting a gas line to an appliance.

Sounds more like he was "heybubbed". NFPA 54 has required dedicated shut
off valves for gas appliances for a very long time.

On Oct 14, 5:25*pm, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:
Even after shutting the gas valve, the lines are still
pressurized. Need to light a stove burner, or turn *up the
water heater until the gas pressure is reduced.



gas lines in homes generally have at most a few ounces in pressure.
theres very little pressure to release

On Sat, 15 Oct 2011 08:37:24 -0400, George
wrote:



Think about getting a flexible gas line.

I have never seen a hard piped residential dryer. How would you even
install it in the majority of locations were dryers are installed?


When I first installed a gas dryer, about 40+ years ago, local code
was hard piped. The theory being, the vibration of the dryer over
time would cause the flex line to crack or leak.

I understand now flex is required for situations like earthquakes or
even minor movement of the appliance.

Robert Allison wrote:
On 10/14/2011 1:57 PM, HeyBub wrote:
Robert Allison wrote:

Not a big deal at all unless you don't have a valve at the
appliance. Just make sure to turn off the valve before you start
and it is a piece of cake. I will assume that your dryer has an
electronic ignition, so no pilot lights to relight.

If you DON'T have a valve at the appliance, then you have to shut
off the gas to the house, then relight all of your pilots after you
turn it back on. It would be a good time to install a valve at the
dryer when you turn off the gas.

Not really if you have a cap at hand for the pipe. Disconnect the
dryer and screw on the cap. The amount of gas that escapes from the
line is piddly. You can hold your thumb over the pipe while you
screw around with getting the cap out of the package with your other
hand, the pressure is about 2oz/sq in.

Admittedly, this is not the best way to address the problem, but at
least you won't have to muck about re-lighting pilot lights.



And not advice I would give to anyone that was worried about
disconnecting a gas line to an appliance.

I thought this group was about skipping the "right" way and proceeding
straight to the "usual" way.

On 10/15/2011 5:40 PM, HeyBub wrote:
Robert Allison wrote:
On 10/14/2011 1:57 PM, HeyBub wrote:
Robert Allison wrote:

Not a big deal at all unless you don't have a valve at the
appliance. Just make sure to turn off the valve before you start
and it is a piece of cake. I will assume that your dryer has an
electronic ignition, so no pilot lights to relight.

If you DON'T have a valve at the appliance, then you have to shut
off the gas to the house, then relight all of your pilots after you
turn it back on. It would be a good time to install a valve at the
dryer when you turn off the gas.

Not really if you have a cap at hand for the pipe. Disconnect the
dryer and screw on the cap. The amount of gas that escapes from the
line is piddly. You can hold your thumb over the pipe while you
screw around with getting the cap out of the package with your other
hand, the pressure is about 2oz/sq in.

Admittedly, this is not the best way to address the problem, but at
least you won't have to muck about re-lighting pilot lights.



And not advice I would give to anyone that was worried about
disconnecting a gas line to an appliance.

I thought this group was about skipping the "right" way and proceeding
straight to the "usual" way.


I believe most folks are looking for sensible answers that reflect
commonly used safe practices. There only seems to be one poster that
always give bailing wire and duct tape suggestions.

On 10/15/2011 10:35 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On Sat, 15 Oct 2011 08:37:24 -0400,
wrote:



Think about getting a flexible gas line.

I have never seen a hard piped residential dryer. How would you even
install it in the majority of locations were dryers are installed?


When I first installed a gas dryer, about 40+ years ago, local code
was hard piped. The theory being, the vibration of the dryer over
time would cause the flex line to crack or leak.

I understand now flex is required for situations like earthquakes or
even minor movement of the appliance.

I always remember flex lines even in my parents house when I was a kid.
And the gas company in the area where we lived was always extra
conservative.

I do remember having to change out old flex lines maybe 20 years ago. I
don't remember the details but I think the older lines were mild steel
and there were corrosion issues. Now we need to use SS lines (which
obviously could introduce other corrosion issues but apparently don't).

On 10/16/2011 12:15 PM, George wrote:
On 10/15/2011 10:35 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On Sat, 15 Oct 2011 08:37:24 -0400,
wrote:



Think about getting a flexible gas line.

I have never seen a hard piped residential dryer. How would you even
install it in the majority of locations were dryers are installed?


When I first installed a gas dryer, about 40+ years ago, local code
was hard piped. The theory being, the vibration of the dryer over
time would cause the flex line to crack or leak.

I understand now flex is required for situations like earthquakes or
even minor movement of the appliance.

I always remember flex lines even in my parents house when I was a kid.
And the gas company in the area where we lived was always extra
conservative.

I do remember having to change out old flex lines maybe 20 years ago. I
don't remember the details but I think the older lines were mild steel
and there were corrosion issues. Now we need to use SS lines (which
obviously could introduce other corrosion issues but apparently don't).

I'm no pipefitter, but it was always drummed into to me to use a new
flex line whenever you had to move a dryer or stove- the old ones
supposedly took a set after a few years, and were prone to cracking if
reused. Cheap enough to be considered disposable, I guess. Wonder if it
is code-legal to have local hose shop make you a multi-layer rubber and
braided stainless (or whatever) one, like for a gas grill?

--
aem sends...

"woger151" wrote in message
...
I want to clean out the vent in my gas dryer. To really do that well,
I have to move it away from the wall.

To do _that_, sounds like I need to disconnect the gas line, and then
reconnect when done. Is that really a big deal? There's all sorts of
advice on how to do it on the web, e.g. in this USENET group at

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.h...04b82494a3eef1

Doesn't sound like a big deal. I'm not that experienced but am pretty
handy and careful, so I figure calling a plumber would be a waste of
money, but wanted to hear what you guys had to say.

That being said, there _was_ an incident around here (suburb of Wash
DC) where some guy blew his house to bits a few months ago. But I
think he was actually putting in the line to the dryer himself.

Actually, if the dryer was installed correctly, you shouldn't have to
disconnect the gas line. It should have a coated flexible supply line (
usually yellow)connecting the dryer to the stub with a shut-off valve. This
is so during installation you can have the dryer several feet out from the
wall, make the hook-ups for gas and vent, turn on the valve, plug it in,
then slide the appliance into place.

So, you should be able to pull the dryer out several feet, at least far
enough tto climb over it to get at the supply lines and vents. If not, then
there is something screwy with the installation.