I am installing a gas dryer in a second floor bathroom and I need to get a gasline from basement to second floor (many bends and long runs). Can I use other than blackpipe (soft copper or PEX)
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Depends on local codes. I don't think PEX would be legal anywhere, but there is a flexible plastic-covered stainless steel pipe available that most codes accept and which has a pretty good track record. Not cheap, though.
We've been using that stuff, stainless steel and covered in yellow plastic. You need to have you electrician bond it to the neutral bus in your panel box in our area which also adds to the cost depending on how far the panel box is from the gas manifold. Still it's our standard here in NC.
M------------------
"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
It might be cheating, but if the new dryer is near an exterior wall, would it be possible to run it up the outside of the house and into the second floor?
+1 on checking local codes and practices. Here in Minneapolis they use soft copper.
Actually that was a good idea about running pipe on the outside. Done that lots of times, tubing and piping, though it depends on the customer and how you can hide the piping. Also have runs many feet of the stainless and it works great though it is expensive and the fittings even moreso but you won't need many fittings. The speed of install outways any extra cost. Never heard of bonding it to panel. I've taken courses from several manufacturers on the stuff and it has never been mentioned and ours have always passed code but I guess local area has jurisdiction.
roger
New install instructions due to lawsuits down south.
We use rolls of soft copper piping and flare fittings, we're not allowed any joints in the wall, all joints must be accessable ..
Hmmmm. Code must have changed since I last saw that section. Only unions and swing joints must be accessible 5.14.4 old code book. Got into a scrap a number of years ago with Union Gas and Consumers Gas where an inspector was trying to say that flare joints were unions. Our position was that if they had meant flare joints to be accessible they would have said it. We won.
roger
Interesting. Must be a recent change because about a year ago I ran a couple of hundred feet of that stuff. Just when you think you are beginning to know something "they" change it:)
roger
National Fuel Gas code says you must be a "Qualified Agency" to install fuel gas line. Most supply houses won't sell you what's known as flexible corrugated stainless steel tubing unless you are certified. Do yourself a favor and call a plumber. They won't charge you much and it will be done right according to code and pressure-tested just to be sure. The CSST is probably your best option.
A plumber here in south PA did my whole house for $800.
Definitely not soldered copper nor PEX because in a fire they would blow open at a very early stage of a fire and turn a small one into a large one.