Speaking Of Csst...

threaderman

Spent a few days under a crawl re-piping with Gas-tite.That won't happen again.I was really dis-appointed in the make-up of the fittings.I've done quite a bit of Trac-pipe work and I never had to go back and tweak fittings ,and being under a 20" crawl made me say "never again with gas-tite under a crawl",or anywhere.I'm sitting on a hundred feet of various sizes that I have to burn through but it will only be installed in accessible locations.Anyone have similar experiences with gas-tite ?

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Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

smellslike$tome

Never used it. You've mentioned that job several times at least I think it is the same one. Sounds like it was a nightmare. Hope your done and hope you made large on it.

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Grumpyplumber

If you thought that was bad, try Wardflex with the graphite washers.
One small burr on your cut and it's time to run around hoping leak detector will work around the dam fitting. (often doesn't work at the fitting)
Tracpipe is no.1 on CSST.
CSST is last on the list of preferred piping for gas for me.
In your situation I could see using it though.

threaderman

I was battling black-iron.Re-piped in csst.,lost my ass to be honest .I usually don't have problems telling people to kiss my butt when I feel I'm being used but I did not bail when my instincts said walk.Once in a while it happens.

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Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

threaderman

One of my other suppliers carry the ward-flex but being certified in the 2 others is fine for me.I do enjoy iron and run it when it is pratical.

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Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

smellslike$tome

Ouch! Sorry to hear that. It's bad enough missing the price on any job but a job like that multiplies the pain.

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JamesNLA

I have repiped many houses with gas tite, never once had a problem. I also am patient when making my cuts and I have the correct cutter for csst. Never had one leak....ever. Fittings are reuseable should I need to recut, and I can feel that a good connection is being made. Gas tite fittings unlike tracpipe hold onto the jacket for a cleaner install. The tees are pricy but I use gal for those. It's cheaper to buy 3 male adapters than the gas tite tee.

What went wrong with your install? 20" would have me pissed too.

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"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

threaderman

I really don't know! I have gas-tite cutters dedicated for csst[no-contaminants].Followed all the torque requirements,just a little gas dope on male threads[not in the fittings,duh].Strapped well[no pressure on pipe or fittings].Some joints I just took apart ,inspected ,re-inserted ,and they held.Re-placed one 1" flare x mip adap which had no noticable dings or dents and the new fitting held.With the 20" clearance I had to install to the side of me instead of even pressure in front of me.Used 15" adjustable wrench and a ford wrench ,so nice even pressure.I guess it was just one of those rare off-days.It's bound to happen once in a while but I don't have to like it .All the same,when I use the rest of this gas-tite it will be in exposed areas.Glad the system has worked well for you.

__________________
Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

Double-A

Next time you have to do a repipe and are going to CSST, consider a home run system. This puts all of your supply joints in one area and all of the service joints above the floor.

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New York Times, July 20, 2006

masterk

Whenever you use wardflex with the grafite washers remove the washer from 1 of the fittings. Now make up the joint without the washer. Take back apart the joint and use the correct fitting and make the joint. This allows the end of the pipe to be square when it is installed against the washer. This process has saved me many leaks and alot of fustration. If not they will leak about 80% of the time.

Grumpyplumber

Excellent idea...I used to just crush the sharp end inward away from the seal by rolling a thin blunt object llike a screwdriver around the i.d....worked pretty well too.
Aside from that point, the annealed quality of the Wardflex made me nervous at times when dragging it through joists etc.

smellslike$tome

Got a feeling I might get abused on this one but I have to ask. Doesn't anybody use soft copper for gas piping. I know there are some issues with sulfur content in the gas eating the pipe but around here the sulfur content is within spec and it is VERY common. On older systems of course you see a lot of black iron but almost all residential new construction for the last 15 or 20 years at least seems to be copper. With all the apparent issues with the newer gas piping and with costs being pretty close to equal when it's all said and done just seems like copper would still be preferable (I know I'm about to get hammered by all you guys who live in areas where copper is not allowed). I am not aware of any instance in my area where there was a documented fire or explosion as a result of a failed copper gas piping system. That does not mean that it hasn't happened only that I am unaware of any instance. Understand that I am not necessarily in love with copper, I've installed miles of pex for water distribution, but for gas piping copper just still seems like the way to go, much faster than iron and maybe more reliable than some of the newer systems. Oh yeah the last time I looked at trac pipe you could only buy it in 300' rolls which would probably take me a year or more to use.

So here is your opportunity to educate me in an area that is not my strongest. If I am dangerously ignorant of some well established FACTS, let me know before I kill someone.

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JamesNLA

Last time I messed with copper gas lines was when I was an apprentice. I was in charge of connecting the air compressor to clear the line. It's a no no round here.

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-Adrock

Grumpyplumber

We can only use copper with flare fittings on LP..not on NG because of the sulfur.

Herk

We can't use copper for any type of gas here, so far as I know. And neither can we use galvanized at all. The gas company will make us take it out. All black. CSST is OK. I'm certified in both Wardflex and Gastite, but it's been a long time ago and I should probably recertify.

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Grumpyplumber

I got certified in all three...what a gaff.
MFG sales rep comes in and gives a brief tutorial, then practically gives you the test answers.
To them it's part of the sales process, seals the deal for future purchases.
I'm pretty sure you're supposed to get certified annually...screw that.
Can't remember ever being asked by an inspector or supplier to pull out my MFG certification card.

Herk

Yeah, it's not exactly an in-depth training program. But then, it's not exactly difficult to assemble the stuff, either.

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JamesNLA

I did the training from Delco sales. Basically it's just a rep company. The guy who gave it was very smart. He had to do his sales crap to get all the idiot apprentices up to speed on how to assemble and terminate. The real joy for me was the after class - class. Me and a few other guys stuck around for a few hours to go over gassing. As you know it's not the same poly or iron pipe. There are additional pressure drop looses involved. So understanding them and relearning how to correctly do the math on systems that involve poly - iron - AND CSST in one structure...figuring out what was what took me a little bit to learn, but I have it down now. Besides most of my gassing is for tankless heaters, but I do - do a few repipes per month so that helps!

As for the class....it was all but useless. I did get free OJ and coffee, and I was the only one who didn't wait till the end to start eating. They do ask that you go once a year, but I just don't see the need. If there is a question I have, I look on the web site or ask my guy at my house. It's simple enough....unless you try cutting the stuff without the correct tools and tips!!

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"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock