I have a gas line running to my outdoor hot tub water heater. When I
first installed it 8 years ago I used black iron pipe because i heard
that it was required.
Lately I've noticed that it is heavily rusted where it is lying on the
concrete.
Can I replace it with galvanized?
I get all sorts of answers from google.
Engineman

engineman wrote:
I have a gas line running to my outdoor hot tub water heater. When I
first installed it 8 years ago I used black iron pipe because i heard
that it was required.
Lately I've noticed that it is heavily rusted where it is lying on the
concrete.
Can I replace it with galvanized?
I get all sorts of answers from google.
Engineman

IIRC it depends on the sulphur content of the natgas in your area . Have
you considered blocking it up off the concrete so it's not in constant
contact with the moisture that's causing the rust ?
--
Snag
every answer
leads to another
question

"Terry Coombs" wrote in
news
Have
you considered blocking it up off the concrete so it's not in constant
contact with the moisture that's causing the rust ?

Ditto this. Stand it off with some pipe hangers. Don't use pressure
treated lumber. Grey paint is the standard outdoor rust preventative for
black gas pipe around here. Yellow paint if there is concern it might be
confused for water or air.

On Sun, 10 May 2009 12:15:30 -0700 (PDT), engineman
wrote:

I have a gas line running to my outdoor hot tub water heater. When I
first installed it 8 years ago I used black iron pipe because i heard
that it was required.
Lately I've noticed that it is heavily rusted where it is lying on the
concrete.
Can I replace it with galvanized?
I get all sorts of answers from google.
Engineman

Get it off the ground, clean it up, prime and paint it. Problem
solved.

If you hear whistling from the gas pipes when the hot tub heater
kicks on, do the CFM flow math. You might need to take it out and
bump the pipe up a notch or two (1/2" up to 3/4" or 1") - and prime
and paint it well as you replace it.

You don't want to use galvanized unless you really have to. Plumbers
see galvanized pipe and they think "water"...

If it is buried, the pipe is supposed to be the green plastic coated
black pipe, and you have to wrap all the joints and couplings with
approved tape to seal out moisture and reduce rust. But this is above
ground.

-- Bruce --

NO - but you can cold galvanize it with a spray can of paint and zinc.

The metal inside the pipe is the issue, not outside. Derbs clogging the
regulator was to be prevented.

Martin

engineman wrote:
I have a gas line running to my outdoor hot tub water heater. When I
first installed it 8 years ago I used black iron pipe because i heard
that it was required.
Lately I've noticed that it is heavily rusted where it is lying on the
concrete.
Can I replace it with galvanized?
I get all sorts of answers from google.
Engineman

engineman writes:

I have a gas line running to my outdoor hot tub water heater. When I
first installed it 8 years ago I used black iron pipe because i heard
that it was required.
Lately I've noticed that it is heavily rusted where it is lying on the
concrete.
Can I replace it with galvanized?

Galvanized is usually Ixnayed because little bits may fall off and
clog the jets/regulator.

A strong secondary issue is plumbers who think galvanized == H2O..

--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433

"engineman" wrote in message
...
I have a gas line running to my outdoor hot tub water heater. When I
first installed it 8 years ago I used black iron pipe because i heard
that it was required.
Lately I've noticed that it is heavily rusted where it is lying on the
concrete.
Can I replace it with galvanized?


The question is, what are the codes in your area?
In my area we use International Mechanical Code and it does allow the use of
galvanized pipe for natural gas or propane. We can also run copper for
natural gas. Your codes may differ.
IIRC, according to IMC, black iron pipe less than 6 inches from the ground
has to be treated as underground pipe, and properly coated. If you get the
pipe over 6 inches off the ground painting is adequate. Below six inches the
coatings need to be for underground pipe, and painting does not meet the
requirement!.
Again, your codes may be different!
Now if it were my pipe, I would clean it well and paint it, and keep an eye
on it. If it is pitted badly, I would replace it with galvanized, and paint
any exposed threads.
Greg