Hi guys,
I need to run a gas supply line to my kitchen to supply a natural gas range. What is the size and type of fitting I need to terminate this line, so that the new flexible connector coming with the stove, will connect up properly. Also how close to the back wall and how far up from the floor should the line terminate?
Thanks
I did my own lines for the dryer and stove many years ago. I picked up a muni permit and followed the code, obtained muni inspection to pass the work. No legal issues for that once the muni signed off on the install. The corn belt situation may be different if you are not within an area that has county or city building code enforcement.
I made my hole for the 1/2" pipe centered about 2 inches from the wall. This made for a less than 2 inch gap from the pipe to the wall to spin on the shut off valve. I was too close on the dryer and had to drill another larger hole to get enough room to spin the valve. Code said more than 4 inches off the floor, but I went with 6 for some reason.
By muni code I had to pressure test the installed line with caps on each end. ENSTAR gas rented a pressure testing cap with a schader bike pump fitting and gauge. It had to hold 10psi for some amount of time for the muni inspection. I then had to take off the caps and install the valve and fittings back to the meter. No pressure test on the valves.
There are standard gas fittings for ranges that include a valve, or you can go with a fitting that goes on the NPT pipe (1/2" is typical size but I have seen 3/4"). Some gas lines have a built in shut off valve for ruptures only so you will still need a shut off valve at the end of the pipe. The fitting with a valve tend to be too bulky/square and need even more room to spin on than a standard LP/NG ball valve.
http://www.watts.com/pages/_products_details.asp?pid=6442
This fitting comes in 1/2 or 3/4 for the pipe size you are using. You would put a ball valve rated for LP or NG use then this fitting on a nipple or get a male version and just make it up into the ball valve.
The use of valves in your gas pipe system seems to cause some inspectors issues. They are allowed by code and make great sense for when you want to remove an appliance but not shut down the whole gas system out at the meter. Inspectors want as few fittings as possible so having a valve on the end of a pipe just does not feel right to them.
Based on my own experience if you are connecting a new line to an old system you should pressure test the whole thing. I found that by opening up my old system and putting in the new pipe, I loosened up the old pipe dope and had lots of leaks in sections of pipe that I had not touched. I ended up taking the whole run back to the meter apart and doping all the joints again. Made for a long night.