Installing a gas line

[Bouncer]

Does anyone know how to install a propane gas line from the tank
to the cabin and branch out to connect to a fridge, tankless water heater,
and stove top. Or can you suggest some good books with step by step
instruction?
Kevin

[JRR]

Have you tried your propane supplier?  They probably have the best documents available.

[glenn-k]

There is a setback from the cabin - used to be 10 feet - I think it's more now -

My tankless heater wants 3/4" pipe up to 40' 1/2 up to 10 feet.  The others should get by on 1/2"lines.  Use iron pipe with the green coating - Fletcher coat - wrap all joints with 10 mil tape before burying.  I like a good teflon pipe paste type joint compound - the Permatex white automotive type  is best I think but other PTFE ones will work.  I had way too many leaks with teflon tape.

Leave it out of the ground by the tank about 3 feet - you probably will get a new 2 stage regulator from your gas co. that mounts at a 45 degree angle  with a vent hole on the bottom.  Plug all outlets and pressure test with air for a while - overnight is good - I used about 30 psi - - It should not bleed off.  You can buy or make a test gauge -with a schrader (tire) valve screwed into a tee to pump up and relieve pressure.  Soap bubbles help to check for leaks.  Operating pressure is only about 1/2 psi in operation -11" to 14" W.C.  water column.

[Amanda_931]

I understand that some of the gas--or propane--guys do this for free.

If the latter you'd probably have to sign a contract to buy your gas from them.

[borgdog]

There is a setback from the cabin - used to be 10 feet - I think it's more now -

If you're in snow country, be sure to not place the tank where snow off the roof can hit it.  I had a neighbor that had his tank some 12-15 feet away from the cabin, but on the side the snow slid off the roof on.  It wasn't far enough and one winter the snow knocked the tank off it's concrete platform.  Fortunately the gas line was flexible enough to not break.  He ended up building a very sturdy snow fence to block this from happening again, not very attractive, but effective.

Dan

[fishstix]

I would hire it out gas it nothing to play with.

[glenn-k]

Then hope the guy you hire has brains enough to know what he is doing - nothing beats knowing what is proper yourself even if you do put it out for hire.

Here if your tank goes empty you need a complete system check - my wife was here to watch the gas guy from the propane company as he put his time in - I asked her if he relit everything after his test.  - She said what do you mean - he looked at the lines and said it was good.  The tank valve had a leak in it and leaked out a bunch of my propane after his "test".  

I tightened the packing myself later after we kept thinking we smelled propane.

If not do-it-yourself, then know-it-yourself or hire someone who is trustworthy and make sure what they do makes sense.