Simple copper gas question
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I believe HotRod's onto something with this possibly being a trick question.
Soft copper used to always be sold by it's outside dimension, but lately I've noticed that it's sometimes sold by O.D., and sometimes by I.D. As far as I know, flare fittings are ALWAYS sold by the outside dimension of the tubing.
It can be very confusing if you're not paying close attention.
With this being said, 3/8" O.D. would be very small for a gas line, unless we're talking about powering up something like a Bunsen burner.
What I'm guessing you are dealing with is 3/8" I.D. If so, what you need is a 1/2" flare nut and a 1/2" male flare by 3/8" male pipe thread adapter, and 1/2" O.D. copper tubing to go with it (which is probably the same as the 3/8" I.D. copper that you think you have).
Hopefully this helps after you re-read it over a few times. Like I said, I know this stuff can be confusing.
Good luck.
Soft copper used to always be sold by it's outside dimension, but lately I've noticed that it's sometimes sold by O.D., and sometimes by I.D. As far as I know, flare fittings are ALWAYS sold by the outside dimension of the tubing.
It can be very confusing if you're not paying close attention.
With this being said, 3/8" O.D. would be very small for a gas line, unless we're talking about powering up something like a Bunsen burner.
What I'm guessing you are dealing with is 3/8" I.D. If so, what you need is a 1/2" flare nut and a 1/2" male flare by 3/8" male pipe thread adapter, and 1/2" O.D. copper tubing to go with it (which is probably the same as the 3/8" I.D. copper that you think you have).
Hopefully this helps after you re-read it over a few times. Like I said, I know this stuff can be confusing.
Good luck.
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10,582 Posts
Ayuh,.... 3/8",.....
Ayuh yourself. Try reading my confusing post above yours, and then the one above that about this being a trick question. The real answer is 1/2".
The real answer is it depends on whether the OP is referring to 3/8" ID, 3/8" OD, or 3/8" nominal (which for soft copper is 3/8" OD). One would assume 3/8" nominal, except that's small for a gas line. Most appliances that use gas require at least 1/2" nominal. Since flare fittings for copper are only for soft copper (rigid copper pipe doesn't flare), flare fittings should be matched to the nominal size (OD) of the soft copper.
Note to the OP: Using flare fittings require a flaring tool to provide a funnel-shaped flare (expansion) to the ends of the pipe.
Note to the OP: Using flare fittings require a flaring tool to provide a funnel-shaped flare (expansion) to the ends of the pipe.
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10,582 Posts
Ayuh,.... The question, As Asked, I gave the correct answer,......
3/8" soft copper used to be the standard for simple plumbin' of single gas appliances,.....
I've plumbed 100s, maybe 1,000s of 'em that way since the 1960s,.....
Granted, today, 1/2" is more common, but that's Not what the question was,.....
Really? I will admit that I haven't seen everything, but I have a hard time believing that 3/8" OD tubing was ever used for much of anything other than maybe gas lighting or pilot tubing.
I just looked at some pipe sizing charts. It's hard to find any that go down that small. Most charts start at 5/8 tubing (1/2" I.D.) My quick search found 2 charts that go down to 3/8 O.D. tubing, and the more generous of them says that at 20' you will get about 18k btus of capacity. Tell me one common household appliance that can be powered with this much gas.
Most appliances have 1/2" pipe threads going to them, which if you were converting to copper would actually be 5/8" tubing. Gas ranges and dryers might have a 3/8" connection, which would be the same as 1/2" copper tubing.
A 3/8 x 3/8 flare adapter would be a reducing fitting. If you want the steel pipe threads and the copper to be about the same size, you would need an adapter to go from 3/8" pipe threads to 1/2" male flare.
Like I said, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I have a hard time believing that you've gas plumbed 100's or 1000's of houses with 1/4" I.D. copper.
Bondos right. When you say you find it hard to believe 3/8" o.d. was used for anything more than a bunson burner, you're probably showing how young you are. For 40 years, 3/8" o.d. soft copper was all we used for dryers. I STILL have a 3/8" o.d. dryer line in my house. Dryer works fine so why change it.
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