Gas piping is a crucial component in residential heating systems, responsible for carrying natural gas from the supply directly to your home’s appliances. Let’s delve into the details:
- System Overview:
- Gas piping consists of branch lines that distribute natural gas to individual appliances throughout your home.
- These branch lines lead to drop lines, which are vertical pipes that connect directly to specific appliances.
- How Gas Piping Systems Work:
- Natural gas flows from higher to lower pressure.
- After extraction, it travels through a network of pipes (similar to a highway) to distribution systems that bring it into your home.
- The gas enters your home through a service line, maintained by the natural gas utility.
- Customers are responsible for equipment and gas supply lines downstream of this service line.
- A pressure regulator lowers the gas pressure before it enters your home.
- When you turn on a gas furnace or stove, the slightly higher gas pressure compared to air pressure allows the gas to flow out of the burner and ignite.
Types of Gas Piping Materials:
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- Steel: Commonly used for gas pipes.
- Black Iron: Widely used for both interior and exterior gas lines.
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): Ideal for underground exterior gas lines due to durability and corrosion resistance.
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): Also suitable for underground exterior lines but can be damaged by rocks or tree roots.
- Copper: Limited use for gas pipes.
