Gas Pipe on the outside of my house!

foreversummer

Hi

Not sure if this is the right board for this, but would appreciate any advice from anyone knowledgeable on gas issues.

Just demolished a lean-to building on the side of my house (moved here six months ago) and we find that there is pipe (looks like copper) which runs from the external chimney breast and goes into an air brick nearby. We are assuming this is a gas pipe feeding our living flame fire.

Now of course it is exposed to the elements! Is this OK?

Can anyone help.

Many thanks
Foreversummer

LandyAndy

We have an exposed gas pipe running from the meter into the house - about a six foot run. If it's copper it should be Ok from the weather point of view. Is it any danger of impact damage?

foreversummer

Hi LandyAndy

Thank you very much for your quick reply.

I'm reassured that you have an external gas pipe also. I was very worried that it should be somewhere inside away from the elements!

From the impact point of view, yes I guess it could possibly get knocked. Maybe we could box it in somehow just to be on the safe side. Asssume that will be OK. Thank you for that.

Foreversummer

muz

Hi, I have just had my central heating replaced, and the engineers have run the supply up the outside of the house in copper pipe, so I presume it would be ok!

foreversummer

Thanks Muz

Mine is only thin pipe, about 22mm I would think, and looks just like the copper pipes used inside the house to take water too and from the radiators.

It is just the positioning that makes us assume that it must be a gas pipe as it appears to go into the back of the chimney where we have the living flame fire.

Does that sound similar to yours?

Foreversummer

Avoriaz

Gas Pipe on the outside of my house!

We have one. It was installed a few years ago when we had a gas fireplace fitted. The pipe runs along the outside wall about 50cm above the ground for a few metres before going through the wall.

I think it is standard and accepted practice.

Copper pipe is quite tough and very resistant to corrosion and the elements. Even if it is knocked it is unlikely to split or break.

Unless it is at risk of regular knocks you should leave it as it is and stop worrying.

Maybe a Corgi member will give informed advice. I'm not qualified.

Canucklehead

Good afternoon: As previously mentioned in this thread, your gas supply can run along your outside wall....but if you don't want to take the word as gospel from anonymous posters on MSE about gas safety (and I wouldn't blame you one iota !) you can visit the Health and Safety Executive website
http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/index.htm
or contact CORGI at https://www.trustcorgi.com for the definitive answer.

HTH

Canucklehead

never_enough

Have had the same thing, in a 1st floor flat. The gas pipe ran from the living room to where a gas fire was connected in one of the bedrooms by the previous owner.

muz

Mine runs from the meter box, up and along, and then through the wall into the bathroom, where the boiler is. It is held on with plastic clips every couple of feet, and was installed 2 weeks ago!! It looks to be about 22 - 25mm diameter (not sure of the standard sizes) and is just plain copper pipe.

foreversummer

Thank you all so much for putting my mind at rest.

It may sound as if I'm being a bit paranoid, but when we moved into this house in October last year we found loads of issues with the electrics which have had to be sorted. Then we discovered a short while ago that our solicitor has been negligent in not informing us of a ongoing dispute over part of our front garden!

It was only yesterday when we found this pipe that I started to think, oh my god, not the gas too.

I really appreciate your helpful replies. I can relax now.

Foreversummer

robowen

Its peferctly safe assuming certain conditions are met.
Personally, I would have used plastic coated copper pipe. Not only does it give good protection, it is also resistant to corrosion.

"Copper resists atmospheric corrosion very well, there is no corrosion of copper in a dry environment. Conditions which may cause concern are those where water, salt spray, damp, corrosive chemicals, debris or soot are present. In these situations factory finished yellow plastic coated tube should be used. Protection of joints requires special attention and PVC wrapping tape or certain paints should be applied to the joint area. Pipework which has been assembled must be tested for soundness before any additional protection against corrosion is applied on site."