Both propane and natural gas are popular sources of fuel for a variety of different household appliances, such as heating systems, water heaters, and stoves. When you decide that you’re going to install a new gas line in your home or you need a new line for a brand-new appliance that uses gas, it’s important to understand what size line is optimal. We’re going to dive into more detail below about proper sizing depending on the specific gas line application that you’re dealing with.
Gas Pressure
One of the first factors that will influence the size of the gas line that you need for your application is the pressure of the gas. Gas pressure is given in the form of water column, or WC. When it comes to natural gas, you’re going to want a 7-inch WC, while propane will require an 11-inch WC. This comes down to the fact that propane is more energy-dense and delivered at a higher pressure so that it can use smaller diameter pipes than lower-energy natural gas.
Line Length
It’s essential to note that gas pressure diminishes as it travels through your piping. This means that in order to maintain adequate pressure for your gas, you also need to take into account the length of the pipe run that you’re using. Pipes covering a longer distance require more pressure, which means a larger pipe size than shorter runs.
BTU Load
All the different appliances that use gas throughout your home will have a specific BTU requirement. When selecting a gas line size, it’s important to take into account the remaining appliances on that line. The line will need to be able to support the total BTU load of all the appliances on the line. The main gas supply line coming into your house needs to support all the BTU requirements for your appliances, while branch lines need to support whatever appliances are on that specific line.
Line Material
One other factor that can affect the size of piping that you need is the material that the line is made out of. Many different types of piping materials can be used, including corrugated stainless steel tubing, black iron pipe, copper tubing, polyethylene pipe, PVC piping, and so forth. While all these pipes can have the same nominal size, they’ll have various flow characteristics. Each material will have a different smoothness, resistance to the gas flow, and internal diameter that can all affect the amount of gas that it can move and its pressure. Talk with our expert plumbing services team to decide what kind of piping material will work best in your home.
Number of Fittings
One particular factor that you may never even consider affecting the size of the gas line is the number of fittings that the gas line uses. These include things like valves, elbows, and tees. It’s essential to realize that all of these fittings act as minor obstructions in the flow of the gas, which can create more turbulence.
For example, if you have just a straight pipe and you compare the flow of gas through it to a pipe that has four fittings on it, the straight pipe is going to have a stronger flow than the pipe with fittings. For this reason, you’ll need to address the size of the pipe that you’re using in order to accommodate for all the reduction in gas flow that the number of fittings you have produces.
Local Building Codes
Another thing to keep in mind when properly sizing your new gas line is the local building codes and regulations in your area. A lot of the time, the diameter size calculations for your piping aren’t going to be adequate to fit your local building code. Many building codes require upsizing beyond simple calculations to help ensure proper gas delivery. It’s also important to note that you want to pay attention to any material restrictions, so you’re selecting a gas line material that works with your local building code.
Altitude
One lesser-known factor that can affect the size of the gas line that you need for your home is the elevation of your house, or how high it is above sea level. The further above sea level you get, the less dense the air will be. This lack of density greatly affects gas combustion. For example, natural gas typically requires an extra 4% of gas volume for every 1,000 feet above sea level. This helps to compensate for the lower oxygen level at the higher altitude. Depending on how high your home is above sea level, you may need a larger line to deliver the same amount of BTUs as a smaller line in a house that’s at sea level.
Diversity Factor
It stands to reason that not all of your appliances are going to be running at their full capacity all the time. It’s pretty common to run your stove at one time and then your hot water heater at a different time. Because all of your appliances aren’t running at full capacity all of the time, there’s a diversity factor that can be taken into consideration to reduce the size of piping that you need to fulfill your gas needs. A common diversity factor is to assume 80% of the total BTU load for all of your appliances is what’s necessary when appropriately sizing your new gas supply line.
Future Demands
As with doing any sort of installation in your home that’s going to last for a long time, it’s always a good idea to consider your future demands. If you know that you’re going to want to add a whole-home generator or another stove in your basement in the near future, then you’ll want to choose a line that’s appropriately sized to meet those demands. It can be very expensive to have to retrofit a larger gas line later on down the road when you do make those additions.
Seeking Professional Assistance
There’s no doubt that there are many different factors that go into appropriately sizing your new gas line. Whether you’re looking to get a gas line for a new appliance or you want to install a new gas supply line into your home, it’s important to always seek the assistance of a licensed plumbing professional. We have all of this information and are able to appropriately size your new line to meet your demands. Be sure to reveal your intentions for any future additions so that we’ll be able to take that into consideration when properly sizing your new gas line.
Reliable Gas Line Installation Service
Beck Electric, Generators & Plumbing offers reliable gas line installation services for the entire Canton, OH area. Our team of plumbing professionals can also assist with all of your propane tank, boiler, and water heater needs. Simply call our friendly staff today to book your next service consultation.
