If the gas line is steel, your ground rod probably won't penetrate it unless your pushing it down with a track-hoe! However, if your ground rod is touching the gas pipe when your finished pounding it down, you might disrupt the gas company's cathodic protection. It's where anodes are buried in the ground to prevent corrosion on metallic ugnd service lines.

Gas line plastic?...of course, the answer is clear.....your gonna puncture it.

 

Ground rods can go just about anywhere. Why not just avoid the area altogether?

 

I don't know why the utility co. didn't mark the gas line. I drove the rod halfway in at a 45 and now cannot pull it out.

 

I have attained ugnd service locates for some of our jobs....although they were commercial. There have been times when the city did not mark anything as there were no conflicts with my proposed drilling/excavating location.

Additionally, at my own residence, they changed the gas service to yellow-jacket by directionally drilling from the back lane. They popped the d-drill bit out right at the gas meter beside the house.....you wouldn't even of known they were there! Those d-drills are terrific tools!!!

Having said that, as you sure the gas pipe your concerned about is in service?

 

The metal 'gas' pipe dead-ends in my basement, almost at ground level. Now that you raise this head-smacking question, what does this pipe carry? It is about 1 1/2" OD. I already have water service, of course. Is this now my earth ground rod?

 

Looks like an old gas line based on the valve at the bottom.

 

I've seen gas utility men turn upside down like that. Don't ask my why. I call them crazy. Looks like an abandoned natural gas line to me.

Around here, we're lucky. Only one number to call for locates, no matter the reason, they show up and plop all flags, for everything. It's great. Until you get the bill.....

Cheers!

 

I've seen gas utility men turn upside down like that. Don't ask my why. I call them crazy. Looks like an abandoned natural gas line to me.

Around here, we're lucky. Only one number to call for locates, no matter the reason, they show up and plop all flags, for everything. It's great. Until you get the bill.....

Cheers!

Because they don't want to turn the pipe any more in case they break something.

If you're lucky, valve on top....not so lucky, valve on bottom.

 

So can I ground to it, live or not?
Background: House built in 1929. Last resident of original family passed a few years ago. They were using oil for heat, in the uninsulated house in MD. Why would utility run gas, and with such a large diameter pipe?

 

So can I ground to it, live or not?

If it's gas, no.

Cheers!

 

Gas lines are not used for grounding.

 

So. Here, live gas lines have to be bonded, but are not approved grounding devices.

Lines also can't enter below ground level here, so it's usually quite obvious where it's coming from. (old abandoned gas lines are usually right next to new ones outside at the meter)

PS. Any gas meter on that line will have dielectric unions these days. So it wouldn't be a continuous path anyways.

Cheers!

 

So I had the gas company come and verify the gas line and it's disused status. They didn't have this (low pressure line) on their maps. I do not believe it is physically connected and can now use this as grounding. Does anybody see a problem with this?

 

Old Gas pipe of unknown age, unknown material, unknown length, and you "believe" it's disconnected.
Yes, I see problems with it.

Forget the gas pipe. Drive ground rods.

 

I completely agree. Forget about this pipe. Paint it grey or black, and forget about it.

Cheers!

 

The gas workers did open the pipe up to find it unused. At least now I can continue driving rods as started.

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