| Connecting your gas oven or gas clothes dryer may | | | | may need to use a standard bushing reducer to |
| seem pretty straight forward, but selecting the | | | | connect your 1/2 inch flexible stainless steel tube, to |
| correct fitting can make the difference between a | | | | your 3/4 inch pipe. Be sure to take this time to |
| functioning gas line, and a potential fire hazard within | | | | replace your ball joint valve. The cost to replace this |
| your home. Before attempting to connect your gas | | | | part is minimal, and having this part fail could be |
| lines, be sure to check with your local building | | | | dangerous. Be sure to coat all pipe threads with pipe |
| inspector to see if you are allowed to do this job | | | | threading compound. |
| yourself, or if you are required by law to have a | | | | Soft copper |
| licensed contractor connect your gas lines. | | | | When connecting to soft copper you have to "flare" |
| You can find kits available at your local home center, | | | | The existing copper tubing with a special tool that is |
| or hardware store. The kits have several kinds of | | | | made for the job. You will need to flare the tubing to |
| fittings that will adapt to your gas lines. Even with | | | | match exactly with the size of your flare fittings. The |
| these kits you may need to purchase additional | | | | standard size is 1/2 inch. Be sure that you have the |
| pieces that are specific to your needs. | | | | flare nut on the copper tubing before you flare the |
| There are two basic types of existing pipes that you | | | | tubing, or you will have to cut off the flared end to |
| are possibly going to be connecting to. Below you will | | | | insert the nut. When working with copper tubing be |
| find instructions on how to properly connect your gas | | | | sure that you are careful not to kink the tubing. Once |
| oven or gas clothes dryer to each of these pipes. | | | | again you will need to use threading compound, and |
| Steel pipe | | | | Teflon tape. Flared connections effectiveness |
| In many older homes you will find that the appliance | | | | depends heavily upon using these items correctly. |
| is connected directly to the gas line with a steel pipe. | | | | Be sure to check for leaks once all of your |
| You are going to want to exchange the connecting | | | | connections have been made. To properly check for |
| steel pipe for a flexible stainless steel tube. Since you | | | | leaks apply a simple solution of water and |
| cannot connect the flare fitting that came with the | | | | dishwashing liquid to all of your connections. Look for |
| flexible stainless steel tube directly to the steel pipe | | | | bubbles. Bubbles will indicate the location of the leak. |
| threads, you are going to have to buy a flare fitting | | | | Once a leak is found immediately shut off your gas, |
| that fits not only your flexible stainless steel tube, | | | | and refit the connection. |
| but also threads correctly to your steel pipe. You | | | | |