Connecting Gas Lines Made Easy
Connecting your gas oven or gas clothes dryer may seem pretty straight forward, but selecting the correct fitting can make the difference between a functioning gas line, and a potential fire hazard within your home. Before attempting to connect your gas lines, be sure to check with your local building inspector to see if you are allowed to do this job yourself, or if you are required by law to have a licensed contractor connect your gas lines.
You can find kits available at your local home center, or hardware store. The kits have several kinds of fittings that will adapt to your gas lines. Even with these kits you may need to purchase additional pieces that are specific to your needs.
There are two basic types of existing pipes that you are possibly going to be connecting to. Below you will find instructions on how to properly connect your gas oven or gas clothes dryer to each of these pipes.
Steel pipe
In many older homes you will find that the appliance is connected directly to the gas line with a steel pipe. You are going to want to exchange the connecting steel pipe for a flexible stainless steel tube. Since you cannot connect the flare fitting that came with the flexible stainless steel tube directly to the steel pipe threads, you are going to have to buy a flare fitting that fits not only your flexible stainless steel tube, but also threads correctly to your steel pipe. You may need to use a standard bushing reducer to connect your 1/2 inch flexible stainless steel tube, to your 3/4 inch pipe. Be sure to take this time to replace your ball joint valve. The cost to replace this part is minimal, and having this part fail could be dangerous. Be sure to coat all pipe threads with pipe threading compound.
Soft copper
When connecting to soft copper you have to “flare” The existing copper tubing with a special tool that is made for the job. You will need to flare the tubing to match exactly with the size of your flare fittings. The standard size is 1/2 inch. Be sure that you have the flare nut on the copper tubing before you flare the tubing, or you will have to cut off the flared end to insert the nut. When working with copper tubing be sure that you are careful not to kink the tubing. Once again you will need to use threading compound, and Teflon tape. Flared connections effectiveness depends heavily upon using these items correctly.
Be sure to check for leaks once all of your connections have been made. To properly check for leaks apply a simple solution of water and dishwashing liquid to all of your connections. Look for bubbles. Bubbles will indicate the location of the leak. Once a leak is found immediately shut off your gas, and refit the connection.