Replacing a black gas pipe

[kjacobs]

Helping my cousin John work on replacing a section of black pipe, for his ex wife, in south east Michigan. Natural Gas. The pipe outside rusted and developed a leak. Gas company discovered it when reading the meter, and shut the gas off. John used to work in hvac so he knows quite a bit. Gas company says it will have to pass a test before they turn gas back on. Question is how to test it and who does the test? I assumed we replace the bad pipe, gas company comes out and turns gas on and tests with a sniffer for leaks. Gas company is no help what so ever on giving out information on the process. I have read about plugging off the line ends and applying air pressure, with a guage attached. Gas company comes out and oks the pressure test. Which way do the gas companies want it done?

 

[Fitter30]

Gas company probably valve off the water heater ,furnace and if the stove has spark ignition won't do anything with it unless there's a leak. Test might put a inches of water column gage on the piping turn the gas on fill the piping turn it off watch the gage for 15 minutes see if it goes down. There is so little volume even a small leak will show up. Might spray soap bubbles on valves and unions.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[kjacobs]

Gas company coming out today. I am still not sure how it will be tested. We have it all put back together, with no test guage in place. Will the Gas company throw a guage on and plug meter end off, and close the furnace valve off, and perform the test? Or am I responsible to have all that in place when they arrive? The furnace is the only gas appliance.

 

[Fitter30]

They will have a what ever they need. They will turn off what they want off. Then turn everything back on.

 

[kjacobs]

Ok, it was pretty simple. My uncertainty was when I called consumers the person on the phone was clueless as to what the process was, She told me the gas would not be turned on unless it passed the test 1st. I asked if the gas had to be turned on to do the test? Never got a good answer, just hemming and hawing. The consumer guy that showed up was a gem. Explained everything in detail. They ALWAYS perform the test. Forget what he called it, but basically turned the gas on and watched the usage meter dial. It did not move in 15 minutes. Passed with flying colors. He told me the meter regulator reduces gas pressure to .25 lbs. No air pressure involved, no water column gauge involved. Big relief and I don't have to worry about my elderly cousin any more. Thnx to all!!!

 

[John Gayewski]

It's called a no flow test. Our gas company requires a contractor (licensed plumber) sign off that it has been tested. We fill out a piping report saying that we tested it. Then they do a "no flow" test to double check. The meters show even the slightest movement so it's a good secondary test.