Gas Line/Dryer

cbaur88 · 01-03-2012, 08:51 AM

Hi folks, hope I am in the right spot with my issue. Also I apologize in advance for my lack of knowledge and terminology in this department as I do not all that much about plumbing/gas lines.

I need to move my gas line going to my dryer to complete a crawl space project that I am in the midst of. However in doing so I am a few inches short now. Of course my fittings for my older dryer are not standard and I am having a very difficult time finding

A. a longer gas line in the same size
B. couplers or connectors that would allow me to extend the gas line making it longer.

Attached are some photo's of my current scenario. One of my biggest frustrations is knowing the size of my gas line, the nipple size, etc... I am almost certain now after many painful trips to HD and trial & error that the nipple size extending down from my gas line and on the back of my dryer is 1/2". Does anyone know if they may these lines say in 5' length? My current length is 4'. Thanks in advance for your help!

**TheEplumber** · 01-03-2012, 10:02 AM

Just curious, is that gas valve in the crawl space?

del schisler · 01-03-2012, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbaur88

Hi folks, hope I am in the right spot with my issue. Also I apologize in advance for my lack of knowledge and terminology in this department as I do not all that much about plumbing/gas lines.

I need to move my gas line going to my dryer to complete a crawl space project that I am in the midst of. However in doing so I am a few inches short now. Of course my fittings for my older dryer are not standard and I am having a very difficult time finding

A. a longer gas line in the same size
B. couplers or connectors that would allow me to extend the gas line making it longer.

Attached are some photo's of my current scenario. One of my biggest frustrations is knowing the size of my gas line, the nipple size, etc... I am almost certain now after many painful trips to HD and trial & error that the nipple size extending down from my gas line and on the back of my dryer is 1/2". Does anyone know if they may these lines say in 5' length? My current length is 4'. Thanks in advance for your help!

Why are you using pipe dope on the fitting's they are flair and no need for this ??? When their ask them. If not take 2 and couple them?? All gas copper fitting's are flair. the only time to use pipe dope is on the black pipe male end and the other is flair no pipe dope their.

cbaur88 · 01-03-2012, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheEplumber

Just curious, is that gas valve in the crawl space?

That is correct......

cbaur88 · 01-03-2012, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by del schisler

Why are you using pipe dope on the fitting's they are flair and no need for this ??? When their ask them. If not take 2 and couple them?? All gas copper fitting's are flair. the only time to use pipe dope is on the black pipe male end and the other is flair no pipe dope their.

Better safe then sorry & can't hurt right?

I know this sounds dumb but it's confusing to me. So if my connectors or nipples were both 1/2 inch I would want a 1/2inch OD hose correct?

joecaption · 01-03-2012, 10:36 AM

Looks more like tape to me, not dope.
Big no no. reasons being if any of it's fakes off it's going to block the tiny oriface in the dryer.
Any gets on the sealing surface of the flare and it can not seal.
That shut off needed to be asseable, attached to the dryer or to the nipple where it comes out of the wall.
Never under the house.
It also looks like galv. pipe, it should have been all black iron.

TarheelTerp · 01-03-2012, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbaur88

I need to move my gas line going to my dryer to complete a crawl space project that I am in the midst of. However in doing so I am a few inches short now.

A. a longer gas line in the same size <-- OKish
B. (pipe & fittings) that would allow me to extend the gas line <-- Much Better

One of my biggest frustrations...

Be still your heart.
The plumber you hire will take care of the immediate problem quickly.

They'll also do it better and with the extra brackets and supports and such
and proper valve location that you haven't asked about.

hth

cbaur88 · 01-03-2012, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joecaption

Looks more like tape to me, not dope.
Big no no. reasons being if any of it's fakes off it's going to block the tiny oriface in the dryer.
Any gets on the sealing surface of the flare and it can not seal.
That shut off needed to be asseable, attached to the dryer or to the nipple where it comes out of the wall.
Never under the house.
It also looks like galv. pipe, it should have been all black iron.

It's for sure dope I put it there. Lesson learned will never do again with a flare fitting. I love talking to knowledgeable people about stuff I don't know much about I learn something all the time, thank you!

Sounding more and more like a rig job. I know we all bash the previous owner of our homes but I have found some things that even an average DIYer's hair stands up. He was notorious for rigging things I could go on and on and make a few of you chuckle but trying to stay on track.

This particular situation the flexible gas line was coming through the crawl space door via a notch in the wood door. I have a friend of the family who's a plumber who can possible help. I just hate bugging him as he helps us out when needed and he's got a little 1yr old. Wanted to try and tackle myself but nothing I mean nothing is ever easy when doing home repair.

Attached is a little bit better pic of the shut off.

joecaption · 01-03-2012, 12:11 PM

What he may do is get rid of 1/2 of those fittings. With every joint there's more chances for leaks.

ben's plumbing · 01-03-2012, 03:59 PM

he should get rid of all the old piping ...brass flex...no no....old lever gas valve no no.....repipe with ball valve..and stainless steel flex... not allowed bushings either..get rid of them also..

cbaur88 · 01-03-2012, 04:03 PM

I know this is probably impossible to do but can anyone tell what size those flares are. I had bought a 5/8 dryer line at HD but it was too big so I am thinking it's 1/2 but would love to be certain vs. 95% sure.

COLDIRON · 01-04-2012, 06:56 AM

Couple things, did you see what Eplumber and Ben said?
Is that shutoff in the crawlspace ? if the answer is yes you need new piping to upstairs behind the dryer then a valve installed.

And it should all be replaced if it is galvanized with black pipe to the upstairs shutoff then short flex to the dryer connection. leak check, leak check,leak check.

del schisler · 01-04-2012, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbaur88

I know this is probably impossible to do but can anyone tell what size those flares are. I had bought a 5/8 dryer line at HD but it was too big so I am thinking it's 1/2 but would love to be certain vs. 95% sure.

I bet it is 3/4" not 1/2"

cbaur88 · 01-04-2012, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COLDIRON

Couple things, did you see what Eplumber and Ben said?
Is that shutoff in the crawlspace ? if the answer is yes you need new piping to upstairs behind the dryer then a valve installed.

And it should all be replaced if it is galvanized with black pipe to the upstairs shutoff then short flex to the dryer connection. leak check, leak check,leak check.

Yes that shutoff for the dryer is in the crawl space which I am learning is a no no. The shut off is about 2 feet away behind the door of the crawl space. I plan on adding a shut off directly behind the dryer to bring it up to code. As for the rest of the piping yes I agree it all needs to be replaced with the proper piping which I plan on doing. Thanks!

cbaur88 · 01-04-2012, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by del schisler

I bet it is 3/4" not 1/2"

That's what I originally thought but I bought a 5/8" dryer line and it was too big for the flare fitting so that's why I am leaning toward 1/2". Unless I am missing something in that a 5/8" OD line fits differently. I am so dam confused at this point I can't keep it all straight. I am basically at the point where I am ripping it all out and bringing it to a plumbing supply and letting them tell me what the hec it is.