This is a picture of the natural gas connection going into a pool heater. The heater no longer works. I just want to remove the heater and cap the gas line.
Please see the picture. I'm not sure what the different parts are here. Can someone direct me where I should clamp my first wrench and which fitting to loosen based on the picture?
You are looking at a union, with an elbow to the left and a valve to the right.
Put one wrench on the biggest "nut". Put the other wrench on the smaller "nut" immediately to the right of it - you'll notice both of them are more worn than the other ones.
Hold the smaller one still while unscrewing the larger one.
Here's a cutaway view, if this image link works. From Grainger, no affiliation nor endorsement implied. Down on this image would be right on your image.
...natural gas...
...I'm not sure what the different parts are here...
Those two statements together equal "call a gasfitter".
Removing the appliance will leave the gas line unsupported, and that will lead to failure at the supported end off to the right.
The cap you want to install must be properly sealed or it will leak. Maybe now, maybe later. If the shutoff valve is faulty it will leak quite a bit of gas when you open the union.
Do you have non-sparking tools? Natural gas ignites very easily and burns very, very well.
A gasfitter will remove the pool heater, cut the pipe back to a proper place and cap the line properly. They will probably also dispose of the heater for you.
The worst-case for a do-it-yourself gas service is your house explodes. Another possible outcome is a nasty fire, with you standing in the middle.
And it's probably illegal for you to do this work yourself, which means if your house explodes your insurance will not pay out. Not an issue for you if you are home at the time, but your beneficiaries might be upset.
