Comments on: Is it safe to use copper pipe with natural gas? http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas Natural Gas Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:14:59 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: split dog http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas/comment-page-1#comment-1323 split dog Sun, 25 Apr 2010 17:13:59 +0000 http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas#comment-1323 In some areas it is legal to use flexible copper tubing w/ flared connections for gas. There were problems w/ old style galvanized iron pipes for that reason but it is commonly used these days . Black iron is universally accepted & even then may need to have flexible copper or stainless steel ends in earthquake zones. To the point..... Might be a local code (doubt it)... ask him to show you the code reference he's citing. He's full of it , just does'nt know or is trying to knock you off Might try another contractor. You can call the local utility co.or bldg inspectors office. Best regards<br><b>References : </b><br> In some areas it is legal to use flexible copper tubing w/ flared connections for gas.
There were problems w/ old style galvanized iron pipes for that reason
but it is commonly used these days .
Black iron is universally accepted & even then may need to have flexible copper or stainless steel ends in earthquake zones.
To the point…..
Might be a local code (doubt it)… ask him to show you the code reference he’s citing.
He’s full of it , just does’nt know or is trying to knock you off
Might try another contractor.
You can call the local utility co.or bldg inspectors office.
Best regards
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]]> By: chris h http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas/comment-page-1#comment-1322 chris h Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:36:59 +0000 http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas#comment-1322 you'll be ok with copper the unsafe part is that people assume its a water pipe label the pipe gas with yellow tape every so often. i 've just started seeing copper used as ags line and was surprised but am hearing good things about it<br><b>References : </b><br> you’ll be ok with copper the unsafe part is that people assume its a water pipe label the pipe gas with yellow tape every so often.
i ‘ve just started seeing copper used as ags line and was surprised but am hearing good things about it
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]]> By: goldwing http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas/comment-page-1#comment-1321 goldwing Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:08:59 +0000 http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas#comment-1321 USE either fexible vinyl lined piping made for gas Or black pipe only...copper is dangerous used as gas line....never meets code...codes are in place for your protection. Replace this pipe...cheapest is flexable piping, usually blue outside color. I would worry more about the copper to ? fittings...copper is fine when connected to bronze or copper, but never to iron! And any strapping for copper must be copper, or serious electrolysis will occur. IT isn't so much the pipe as the connections to the heater and the strapping that is dangerous!<br><b>References : </b><br> USE either fexible vinyl lined piping made for gas Or black pipe only…copper is dangerous used as gas line….never meets code…codes are in place for your protection. Replace this pipe…cheapest is flexable piping, usually blue outside color. I would worry more about the copper to ? fittings…copper is fine when connected to bronze or copper, but never to iron! And any strapping for copper must be copper, or serious electrolysis will occur. IT isn’t so much the pipe as the connections to the heater and the strapping that is dangerous!
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]]> By: poppyman54 http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas/comment-page-1#comment-1320 poppyman54 Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:01:59 +0000 http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas#comment-1320 OK! Well you certainly got a lot of differing opinions here. To let you know, copper has been used for gas pipe for years. At one time, the smell that is added to natural gas, so you can detect it, had a high concentration of corrosive additives. Thiophane or t-butyl mercaptan is used to add the smell to natural gas, because natural gas is odorless. The high concentrations were causing the copper pipe to flake off inside the pipe, and the flakes were causing stoppages in the small orifices, that are used in appliances. The gas industry has reduced the amount of these additives, so now there isn't a problem anymore. The reason odor additives were introduced into natural gas, stemmed from an explosion in 1937, in Rusk county, Texas. Over 300 students and teachers were killed on a Friday afternoon, when the 1 year old school was leveled when a gas leak, in the crawl space of the building, exploded when a shop teacher turned on an electric saw. It was the New london school. Go online and look at the pictures and read the stories of the few survivors.<br><b>References : </b><br>Texas Master plumber for 34 years OK! Well you certainly got a lot of differing opinions here. To let you know, copper has been used for gas pipe for years. At one time, the smell that is added to natural gas, so you can detect it, had a high concentration of corrosive additives. Thiophane or t-butyl mercaptan is used to add the smell to natural gas, because natural gas is odorless. The high concentrations were causing the copper pipe to flake off inside the pipe, and the flakes were causing stoppages in the small orifices, that are used in appliances. The gas industry has reduced the amount of these additives, so now there isn’t a problem anymore. The reason odor additives were introduced into natural gas, stemmed from an explosion in 1937, in Rusk county, Texas. Over 300 students and teachers were killed on a Friday afternoon, when the 1 year old school was leveled when a gas leak, in the crawl space of the building, exploded when a shop teacher turned on an electric saw. It was the New london school. Go online and look at the pictures and read the stories of the few survivors.
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Texas Master plumber for 34 years

]]> By: Stephen M http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas/comment-page-1#comment-1319 Stephen M Sun, 25 Apr 2010 15:41:59 +0000 http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas#comment-1319 There are mixed opinions about this. Many say that copper is fine, and that codes allow it, but warn that copper connections that can be the weak point and weaken over time. Some say that the additives will corrode the pipe. Many say that they have been using copper for decades with no problem. Copper certainly is widely and safely used. Perhaps the copper pipes in use for 40 years is a considering factor. I'm not an expert, but it seems confusing. If your code allows it... The slow loading "copper.org" link below has a good discussion on this.<br><b>References : </b><br>http://accurateinspections.com/coppergaspipe.htm http://www.copper.org/applications/fuelgas/pdf/Official_Copper.pdf http://www.finishing.com/132/77.shtml There are mixed opinions about this. Many say that copper is fine, and that codes allow it, but warn that copper connections that can be the weak point and weaken over time. Some say that the additives will corrode the pipe.
Many say that they have been using copper for decades with no problem.
Copper certainly is widely and safely used. Perhaps the copper pipes in use for 40 years is a considering factor.
I’m not an expert, but it seems confusing. If your code allows it…

The slow loading "copper.org" link below has a good discussion on this.
References :
http://accurateinspections.com/coppergaspipe.htm

http://www.copper.org/applications/fuelgas/pdf/Official_Copper.pdf

http://www.finishing.com/132/77.shtml

]]> By: Cornflake http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas/comment-page-1#comment-1318 Cornflake Sun, 25 Apr 2010 15:05:59 +0000 http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas#comment-1318 He is correct. Copper corrodes very easily, and corrosion flaking off inside can travel inside the pipe with the gas to the gas valve. If those flakes get inside the valve, they could keep it from completely closing, giving you a gas leak and an explosion hazard. The black pipe is the only thing you want to use with natural gas. It is stronger and is designed to resist corrosion. The only time you can use copper is if you are using LP (propane)<br><b>References : </b><br>3+ years HVAC experience He is correct. Copper corrodes very easily, and corrosion flaking off inside can travel inside the pipe with the gas to the gas valve. If those flakes get inside the valve, they could keep it from completely closing, giving you a gas leak and an explosion hazard. The black pipe is the only thing you want to use with natural gas. It is stronger and is designed to resist corrosion. The only time you can use copper is if you are using LP (propane)
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3+ years HVAC experience

]]> By: tzweeb http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas/comment-page-1#comment-1317 tzweeb Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:32:59 +0000 http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas#comment-1317 copper pipes will have some flaking off on the inside but it DOES NOT make them unsafe. if your having a problem with a gas appliance then get yourself a different company to fix them. if this guy wants to replace your gas line, then he is wrong and selling you something that doesnt need to be done. what the other comments are talking about is a flexible gas line used to connect appliances to the supply. years ago they used cheap lines and they could break after moving the appliance. those are what need to be replaced not the whole line in your house.<br><b>References : </b><br> copper pipes will have some flaking off on the inside but it DOES NOT make them unsafe. if your having a problem with a gas appliance then get yourself a different company to fix them.
if this guy wants to replace your gas line, then he is wrong and selling you something that doesnt need to be done.
what the other comments are talking about is a flexible gas line used to connect appliances to the supply. years ago they used cheap lines and they could break after moving the appliance. those are what need to be replaced not the whole line in your house.
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]]> By: polegateman http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas/comment-page-1#comment-1316 polegateman Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:25:59 +0000 http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas#comment-1316 Hello Balsaxx, There is so much hype regarding natural gas and copper pipes. Just to give you some peace of mind, Many people will say not to connect copper pipes to natural gas, is what they fail to tell you, is that when all houses were built, the original pipe was made from copper, over the years things in the world of construction have changed, they have found new materials to last longer, have found different fluxes applied to the joints on copper pipes to last longer etc etc. I am 100% British, we have houses that are still standing well over 200 years of age, with the addition of gas central heating and modern heating systems. We never use anything but copper for our plumbing, unless the original house was plumbed using lead pipes. I moved to the USA approximately 5 years ago, and am a self employed contractor, we do anything from installing a light fixture to building a dream custom home. Do not get sucked into the false claims that copper will erode and it is a bad thing, Copper is by far the best choice for any plumbing application, and I am positive that when your house was built, the plumbers knew about all the different types of flux. Flux is used to around the joints, to make the soldier run around the joint and create a water tight or gas seal. I have a house that is 140 years old here, all the pipes are copper and the water is supplied from a well, I have a gas furnace and all the pipes are fine, the well water does build up sediment in the pipes, and one of my bathrooms has a shower which is a bit slow, the water pipes/copper pipes connecting the shower is original I.E. 140 years of age. There are too many people hearing horror stories about copper and gas, copper and water etc. You have nothing to worry about, and if you out live your house than maybe consider a change in about 200 years lol. I hope this gives you peace of mind and do not worry. Paul M <br><b>References : </b><br> Hello Balsaxx,
There is so much hype regarding natural gas and copper pipes.

Just to give you some peace of mind, Many people will say not to connect copper pipes to natural gas, is what they fail to tell you, is that when all houses were built, the original pipe was made from copper, over the years things in the world of construction have changed, they have found new materials to last longer, have found different fluxes applied to the joints on copper pipes to last longer etc etc.

I am 100% British, we have houses that are still standing well over 200 years of age, with the addition of gas central heating and modern heating systems.

We never use anything but copper for our plumbing, unless the original house was plumbed using lead pipes.

I moved to the USA approximately 5 years ago, and am a self employed contractor, we do anything from installing a light fixture to building a dream custom home.

Do not get sucked into the false claims that copper will erode and it is a bad thing, Copper is by far the best choice for any plumbing application, and I am positive that when your house was built, the plumbers knew about all the different types of flux. Flux is used to around the joints, to make the soldier run around the joint and create a water tight or gas seal.

I have a house that is 140 years old here, all the pipes are copper and the water is supplied from a well, I have a gas furnace and all the pipes are fine, the well water does build up sediment in the pipes, and one of my bathrooms has a shower which is a bit slow, the water pipes/copper pipes connecting the shower is original I.E. 140 years of age.

There are too many people hearing horror stories about copper and gas, copper and water etc. You have nothing to worry about, and if you out live your house than maybe consider a change in about 200 years lol.

I hope this gives you peace of mind and do not worry.

Paul M
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]]> By: Rusty Nail http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas/comment-page-1#comment-1315 Rusty Nail Sun, 25 Apr 2010 13:46:59 +0000 http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas#comment-1315 When my home was built 40 years ago the gas company ran copper tubing ti the house underground. After the meter everything was black pipe. I know that they are changing the brass flex lines for stainless steel but I have never heard of a problem with copper.<br><b>References : </b><br> When my home was built 40 years ago the gas company ran copper tubing ti the house underground. After the meter everything was black pipe. I know that they are changing the brass flex lines for stainless steel but I have never heard of a problem with copper.
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]]> By: MAttsprat http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas/comment-page-1#comment-1314 MAttsprat Sun, 25 Apr 2010 13:08:59 +0000 http://www.mayogasinfo.com/natural-gas-facts/is-it-safe-to-use-copper-pipe-with-natural-gas#comment-1314 he is right on<br><b>References : </b><br> he is right on
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