16

We're switching out the natural gas oven for a new model, and we opted for electric. We already have the 240v supply in place and ready to go.

The oven is the last piece of natural gas equipment in our home. We still have pipes running about for the water heater (which we recently switched out for electric, and capped off).

Since there will still be natural gas pipes running throughout the house, are there any special considerations we should take as we cap-off the final leg in our gas system, and shut it off at the meter?

I.E. since there are pipes about, should I somehow evacuate whatever leftover gas is in the lines of the house? Should I take the pipes out? I'm just unsure if there's anything I'm "missing" besides just shutting off the gas at the main (and calling to cancel the gas service)

Tyler M
  • 1,100
  • 3
  • 13
  • 26

3 Answers3

39

I would not take the pipes out because of the demo cost and the fact that having them available may increase the value of the home for resale. Call the gas utility and have the service turned off and when they pull the meter cap that line and there is no more real safety issues but the line should be capped to prevent additional moisture and rust inside the lines.

Ed Beal
  • 103,727
  • 4
  • 79
  • 158
5

should I somehow evacuate whatever leftover gas is in the lines of the house?

It's not terribly difficult, just open a few ends of pipe and consider it evacuated after about an hour. Make sure you have plenty of ventilation as well. Cap it off again to avoid rusting the inside of the pipe.

There is very little gas inside of the pipe; it's usually pressured to just .25 PSI. There is no practical danger of leaving it inside the pipe if you're shutting it off at the meter. Over time it will leak through the joints anyways.

If you evacuate it then your basement will smell like mercaptan for a few days.

Should I take the pipes out?

That's up to you.

A reciprocating saw with a carbide-tooth blade makes light work of gas pipe. Just be careful not to cause collateral damage!

Pros:

  • Makes the basement neater
  • Makes room for other utilities
  • Get some pocket change at the scrapyard for your pipe

Cons:

  • It takes effort
  • If you ever had a need for gas in the future then adding lines would be costly
  • If you're selling your home then buyers might see it as a negative; I know I would
MonkeyZeus
  • 17,328
  • 2
  • 27
  • 64
1

Shut off at the meter is the main thing. Cap off the pipe. There should be a service valve on the cooker supply pipe already in the shut-off position.

There's no reason to worry about the small amounts of gas still in the pipes.

To further reduce the chance of a gas leak leading to disaster after some idiot(*) turns the meter valve back on, you might lock the meter valve in the off position. Maybe with tape, if it has no provision for a padlock.

Note, when you terminate your gas supply with the utility company, they will probably do this for you, either at (or inside?) the meter, or with an upstream valve outside the property that you don't have any access to.

I'd leave the gas piping in the house in place, in case the next owner of the property wants a gas supply. (I know I would!) If it's actively in the way, it's easily cut and removed.

(*) or a person with early-stage dementia.

nigel222
  • 866
  • 4
  • 6