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Gas pipe tightening question from a newbie Smarty 11-09-2006
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Posted by Smarty on November 9, 2006, 5:39 pm


At risk of sounding like a total novice (which I am)....I would very much
appreciate guidance regarding tightening gas pipe and connections:

Specifically........if a run of gas pipe is put together, in this case
roughly 65 feet total, with about 15 fittings along the way, and the
finished piping shows leaks in one or more joints once the line is
pressurized, how is tightening best accomplished?

Since rotating a pipe with a wrench to tighten it in a fitting at one end
simultaneously causes the other end of the pipe to now rotate out of the
joint at the other end, perhaps starting a leak there, it seems like there
is no obvious way to tighten a leaking joint without risking another leak.

The alternative, taking the whole thing apart down to the leaking joint and
then rebuilding the entire remaining run also does not seem a like a smart
or efficient method.

It is tempting to "overtighten" each joint initially, on the theory that
backing off on one connection at a leaking end will still keep the opposite
end of the pipe firmly connected after rotating the pipe. This may be the
correct method, but I have not seen or heard this approach suggested.

Most of the couplings, elbows, and unions I have seen appear to accept at
least a couple full (360 degree rotations) before they snug up.

I thought about putting unions all over the place so that each segment could
be independently tightened. I have not seen professionals use this approach,
so I am guessing this is not a great solution.....


Thanks in advance for any ideas. I am totally clueless..

Smarty (should be called not so Smarty!)



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Posted by Eric in North TX on November 9, 2006, 6:22 pm



Frankly, I use a few unions. I think the pros don't do this for 2
reasons, experience has taught them how tight everything has to be, and
cost, unions cost $ couplers cost cents. A third reason is that they
use liberal amounts of dope, a forth would be tools, most people don't
own a 4' pipe wrench let alone 2 nice light aluminum ones.


Posted by Smarty on November 9, 2006, 9:45 pm


Lots of pipe dope / tape and more unions seems like a good way for me to
proceed.


>
> Frankly, I use a few unions. I think the pros don't do this for 2
> reasons, experience has taught them how tight everything has to be, and
> cost, unions cost $ couplers cost cents. A third reason is that they
> use liberal amounts of dope, a forth would be tools, most people don't
> own a 4' pipe wrench let alone 2 nice light aluminum ones.
>



Posted by Lawrence on November 9, 2006, 6:24 pm



Smarty wrote:
> At risk of sounding like a total novice (which I am)....I would very much
> appreciate guidance regarding tightening gas pipe and connections:
>
> Specifically........if a run of gas pipe is put together, in this case
> roughly 65 feet total, with about 15 fittings along the way, and the
> finished piping shows leaks in one or more joints once the line is
> pressurized, how is tightening best accomplished?

Since you are a newbie don't be surprised if you have to take it apart
and start over. At least your pipe is all threaded and correctly
sized.

Tightening the pipe is not the solution to avoiding or correcting
leaks. You should be using pipe tape which is wrapped aroung the
thread on the male end . It is this tape which prevents the pipe from
leaking not tightening it more or less.

So if you use the tape correctly you will have far fewer worries since
the tape that does the job not the threads on the pipe. You cant be
too safe when installing a gas line so be sure to double check each
joint before leaving the gas on.


Posted by Smarty on November 9, 2006, 9:46 pm


Thanks Lawrence,

Now I wonder if tape is a better choice than the goopy joint pipe dope I was
thinking of using?????

Smarty



>
> Smarty wrote:
>> At risk of sounding like a total novice (which I am)....I would very much
>> appreciate guidance regarding tightening gas pipe and connections:
>>
>> Specifically........if a run of gas pipe is put together, in this case
>> roughly 65 feet total, with about 15 fittings along the way, and the
>> finished piping shows leaks in one or more joints once the line is
>> pressurized, how is tightening best accomplished?
>
> Since you are a newbie don't be surprised if you have to take it apart
> and start over. At least your pipe is all threaded and correctly
> sized.
>
> Tightening the pipe is not the solution to avoiding or correcting
> leaks. You should be using pipe tape which is wrapped aroung the
> thread on the male end . It is this tape which prevents the pipe from
> leaking not tightening it more or less.
>
> So if you use the tape correctly you will have far fewer worries since
> the tape that does the job not the threads on the pipe. You cant be
> too safe when installing a gas line so be sure to double check each
> joint before leaving the gas on.
>



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