Gas pipe corrosion

theoretica

Is this level of verdigris a concern on an underfloor gas pipe? Water I feel more confident about - and assumed this was water, until I did some pipe tracing.  I suspect a flux issue from the soldering. It hasn't been touched for about 15 years - nor has there been a leak above it despite the appearance of the floorboard.

southcoastrgi

Well that's illegal for starters as you aren't allowed compression fittings in that location 

unforeseen

Seems to be a bodge job as well, being supported by wire. 

theoretica

Oh joy.  I mean thank you.  @southcoastrgi do you happen to know if no compression fittings in crawl spaces is a longstanding rule?  Not that I expect any practical comeback against the gas fitter of 1994  (or maybe 2004) who did this - but am I annoyed at them or is it just one of those old house things?

Jeepers_Creepers

Compression fittings have to be in an easily accessible location - I have a couple on my gas pipe in the loft eaves, but they are fully visible and easy to get to - and properly clipped to the joists!

As you suspect, almost certainly over-zealous use of flux which was not then wiped away. Too much flux is very poor practice anyway, and really does hint at a DIY job, as that's one of the common first 'errors' one commits when starting out in their blow-torching DIY careers...  

Is it a 'concern'? Well, chances are it'll continue to give as good a service as it has to date. Fair chance, at least, so good luck if you choose to ignore it. I mean, what possible harm could a build-up of gas cause under your floor?

The good news is that access looks fine, so a GasSafe should be able to sort that out in short order, and also ensure it's clamped up properly. If access is a tad tight, vet the GS's first for waist width...

Jeepers_Creepers

Hang on - over 8k posts on here, with really helpful ones especially on the 'housie' forum?

Too valuable - please tell us you will get that sorted...

Hasbeen

theoretica said:

Is this level of verdigris a concern on an underfloor gas pipe? Water I feel more confident about - and assumed this was water, until I did some pipe tracing.  I suspect a flux issue from the soldering. It hasn't been touched for about 15 years - nor has there been a leak above it despite the appearance of the floorboard.

Looks like original fitter used soldered fittings.  And has then later supplemented by compression fittings? For Gas?


Not ideal. I would not be happy finding that under floor and would want it replaced by correct fittings and supports.


Is it the angle of photo?  Is it all 15mm or 22mm pipe?


Is it feeding 2 gas appliances?

grumbler

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Compression fittings have to be in an easily accessible location

Are you sure? Once I tried to find any reliable information on this and failed, but got the impression that they weren't allowed at all, possibly with few rare exceptions.

theoretica

Hasbeen said:

Looks like original fitter used soldered fittings.  And has then later supplemented by compression fittings? For Gas?


Not ideal. I would not be happy finding that under floor and would want it replaced by correct fittings and supports.


Is it the angle of photo?  Is it all 15mm or 22mm pipe?


Is it feeding 2 gas appliances?

It's 22mm to the boiler with narrower leading up and across to the hob.  I need a (small) gas engineer anyway to take out a fire and the pipe spur leading to it but seems I will want to track all the gas pipe and photograph every joint and bend to get a reliable quote.

Irritation with the crawl space is it is so easy to add stuff - great when I want to move the wifi router, just pop down and poke the cable up through the floor somewhere else.  But many defunct cables and pipes have just been left there and makes access to the beams for fastening a pain, and working out what's what and what can be removed is harder now than if it had been done at the time or at least labelled.

Jeepers_Creepers

grumbler said:

Are you sure? Once I tried to find any reliable information on this and failed, but got the impression that they weren't allowed at all, possibly with few rare exceptions.

Certainly the case when I replaced the old lead gas pipe with copper 15 years ago

Whether this has changed since, I dunno. (And when our gas meter was changed a couple of years back, they replaced my comp with a York. Damn - must chase them for my old fitting...)

southcoastrgi

Compression fittings have to be accessible & those are under the floor, crawling under your house isn't accessible, JC's in the loft are fine & in fact a lot of people won't solder in the loft space due to the fire risk