Important Things To Know About Gas Plumbing
Do you live in a home that uses natural gas or propane for heating or cooking? Have you ever considered who you would contact if you needed repairs made to your gas system? Natural gas and propane are both brought to the appropriate fixtures via a plumbing network. This means that any issues will be fixed by a plumber who has experience working with gas lines. But before you contact a plumber about repairing your gas line, there are a few things that you may want to know:
Gas lines require special pipes: While water can run through a wide variety of pipe materials, natural gas and propane can only use certain types of plumbing. With unapproved plumbing materials, the gas or the trace contaminants that it sometimes contains can corrode and eat a hole through a pipe. When this happens, you can obviously wind up with a dangerous gas leak. While it can be frustrating to have to pay more out of pocket for the correct type of pipes to be installed, this safety measure can save you a lot of time and money in the future.
A permit may be required: Depending on the municipality in which you reside, a permit may be required before any work is done on your gas plumbing. Your plumber should be able to tell you whether or not this is the case and whether he or she will be getting the permit or if you need to file the application yourself. If a permit is required and you fail to file for one, you could be subject to a fine and additional fees for an inspector to determine whether or not the plumbing work is good or if it needs to be redone by another plumber.
Your fixtures should be inspected often: Due to the especially hazardous nature of natural gas or propane plumbing, it's a good idea to hire a plumber yearly to check your gas pipes for any potential issues. He or she will be able to spot things that you may not have realized are issues, allowing him or her to remedy the situation before it becomes an actual problem. While a plumber can't actually see inside of your walls, he or she can get a good idea of the state of your whole plumbing system by inspecting any exposed gas pipes and the gas appliances that are used in your home.
For more information or assistance, contact companies like Walt's Plumbing.