correct application of flex pipe?

[Dudung Suwito]

I am selling a house, and the inspector made this comment:

“Flex gas line improperly enters furnace cabinet. Proper installation consists of a rigid pipe exiting the furnace, and the flex attached to the rigid pipe, Recommended repair . . .”

I was under the impression that it one should never use rigid pipe to connect to appliances, any thoughts?

Walter

» This message has been edited by DUNBAR on 01 November 2005

[SelgasParticipant]

Hi there

From your wording I beleive your inspector means that no flex leads should be installed WITHIN the confines of the furnace compartments. This would mean that the pipe work inside the cabinet of the furnace should be solid pipe but a flex lead may be connected between the main feed pipe to the furnace and the pipework coming out of the furnace cabinet.

Simply put the flex portion of the lead is outside the perimeter of the cabinet.

Different rules for different Countries but that is how I read his wording if this is of any help.

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Selgas Services Ltd
Craftsman Gasfitters, Plumbers, Electrical Service Technicians

[crosstieParticipant]

I read it the same way you do, I was just curious if there were any hard and fast rules about flex entering the furnace, I have looked at other furnaces in the area, & they all have flex entering the furnce. Where can I go for a ruling on this? I don’t want to apply a non code fix on this!

Thanks

Walter

[SelgasParticipant]

If the gas inspector says it should not be so then it is better to correct the problem and because others are fixed the same way does not mean that that is the correct way to do things.
To get a firm ruling on the matter contact your local authority for ways to comply.

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Selgas Services Ltd
Craftsman Gasfitters, Plumbers, Electrical Service Technicians

[PLUMBILLParticipant]

Alot of home inspectors the kind you are dealing with do not know the code and are not working for the local government and have little training. Check with your local heating/plumbing inspector for the correct code requirements and then give this person there phone number to confirm.

[AKPlumberParticipant]

In my opinion only, flex lines being used to pipe gas into major appliances like boilers, etc, are for the lazy. I much prefer to hard pipe (black iron) gas lines whenever I possibly can. They are handy for tight installations or where it will save a load of time in running gas to it, and I’m not condemning them, but most scenarios give plenty of space for a rigid line to be run. Any competent plumber should have no problem cutting and threading the iron line it needs along with proper size nipples and union (after the valve of course).

If flex line absolutely has to be used, I don’t have the code book in front of me but I believe the inspector is correct in that the flex line should NOT enter the furnace cabinet. It should’nt be that hard to run a proper length “nipple” out the gas valve (regulator) through the cabinet and out where it will be acceptable to them for the flex connection.

I always keep 1/2″ and 3/4″ nipple trays of various sizes in my truck along with a 450 tri-stand and Ridgid 700 hand held power threader and lengths of black iron for this purpose, very easy and quick.

By the way, if you “hard pipe” it completely, that WILL be a “code fix”. There is nothing they can say about all black iron running to the furnace long as it’s leak-free and assembled correctly and mechanically straight.

» This message has been edited by AKPlumber on 05 November 2005

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