Gas line for dryer

helpless handyman

I am about to purchase a dryer, and I am leaning towards a gas model. I beleive they are more efficient then electric. My question is, in the boiler room I have a gas line that feeds the boiler, as well as a 50 gallon water heater. Can this line be tapped into for a dryer? The dryer will be about 5 feet from the boiler? Thanks

bigMikeB

How many feet is the boiler connection in pipe feet from the meter and what size is the pipe? How many btu's are the boiler and the water heater?

helpless handyman

BigMike, I will have your answer tonight. The boiler is 117,000 BTU, I have to check the water heater. Also there is a gas range as well connected to this gas line. The pipe look like 1 inc, but could be 3/4. I will confirm tonight. Thanks. The gas meter is on the opposite side, about 36ft away.

Clutchcargo

This site will help explain sizing. They don't explain friction loses from fittings however. If the black steel pipe looks like 1", it's most likely 3/4".
http://www.propane-generators.com/natural-gas-chart.htm

I don't know about efficiency (both throw a decent amount of heat out the vent hole) but gas will be less to operate.

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helpless handyman

Big Mike, the water heater is 40,000 btu's, the boiler 117,000 btu's, and the meter is about 36ft away from the boiler. I see near the boiler there is a union on the gas line. I was wondering if I can tap right into it, next to where it's goes into the boiler? I have heard that the gas dryers are more efficient to run, then the electric ones. Thanks The pipe is about 1 1/4, but gets down to 3/4 by the heater and by the boiler.

Marlin

You need to tee off the 1 1/4.

helpless handyman

Ouch! I thought I could tee off the existing 3/4, the 1 1/4 is on the far side of the wall, Thanks Marlin!

Marlin

The 3/4 is feeding both the boiler and water heater, correct? If so it's defiantly not adequate for a dryer as well.
I'd remove the 3/4 line and replace it with a 1in or 1-1/4. I'm actualyl not sure which you would need to bring over. Then tee off there with 3/4 or 1/2in for your fixtures.

helpless handyman

Marlin, I will double check it tonight, but I think the 1 1/4 is tee to a 3/4 to feed the boiler, and then the 1 1/4 is tee again to feed the water heater. I will confirn tonight when I get home. Thanks so much

bigMikeB

Can you post a pic or two ?

helpless handyman

Okay Big Mike, I looked at it today. 1 1/4 runs from the meter to about 36 feet to the other end of the house. There is a tee on the 1 1/4 pipe that changes the 1 1/4 to 1/2 to feed the water heater, the 1 1/4 pipe runs another say 12-18 inches and another tee changing the 1 1/4 to 1/2 to feed the stove range one floor above, them the 1 1/4 runs and ends about another 12-18 inches to an elbow with a reducer to 3/4 to feed the boiler. Hope this helps. Thanks so much.

bigMikeB

Remove the elbow and replace it with a tee, 1 1/4"x 1/2"x3/4" and you should be fine.

helpless handyman

Okay Big Mike, so continue the 3/4 feed to the boiler, and use the 1/2 to feed the dryer? Thanks so much. Also can a union be added, otherwise I have to take everthing apart from the elbow (3/4 to the boiler) about 3ft of piping.

helpless handyman

Is there such a tee, 1 1/4, by 1/2 by 3/4?

Marlin

You may need to go to a plumbing supply to find one. If they don't have that then get 1 1/4 x 3/4 x 3/4 or 1 1/4 x 3/4 x 1 or whatever else you can find like that and use a short nipple and a reducing coupling to get you down to the size you need. Do not use a bushing on a gas line and remember you can only reduce, not increase.