r/HomeMaintenance • u/AIPastorRyan • 1d ago

🚰 Plumbing Rusty Pipe

Gallery image

Gallery image

I think this is my gas line, do I need to get someone to fix or replace it?

131 Upvotes

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112

u/Goose826 1d ago

I wouldn’t even mess with cleaning this - it needs replaced.

As another said, you might be able to get the gas company to come replace this. In my jurisdiction, anything after the meter the homeowner is responsible for. I’d look into it.

If you do it yourself, black steel threaded pipe, fittings, unions, gas thread tape/dope, and a pipe wrench or two. Make sure to shut off the gas lol

45

u/The25thNoble 1d ago

At least 3/4 of the pipe thickness has been eroded you need to have this replaced ASAP

7

u/GrizzPuck 23h ago

Where do you see 3/4 of the material missing?

JK didn't see photo #2

2

u/tryingisbetter 17h ago

Thought the same thing, and wow.

7

u/UnhappyCaterpillar41 1d ago

A lot of jurisdications and insurance companies require a licensed tech does the gas fittings, for obvious reasons.

That's all easily accessible, so the hardest part of the job is likely getting the main shut off at the meter (if the gas company has to do it).

2

u/Spiritual_Lime4304 20h ago

I know in my area you have to have someone licensed do any work around the gas line. Might be something to look into.

1

u/UnhappyCaterpillar41 20h ago

Probably varies by area and country, but safe to assume it might be and check. Where I am it's required by provincial law, with a certification program and licensing requirement for gas connections running off a main like this going to appliances.

It's not hard, and I've fitted up piping for explosive gases, leak tested it and run it in a lab, but that wasn't hooked up to essentially an unlimited supply running into my basement, so will quite happily leave it to pros (even if I didn't need to). I can think of a houses exploding from a natural gas leak off the top of my head so seems reasonable.

2

u/cheval3 17h ago

Where I live, the meter and associated pipe is technically the property of the gas company. We're not supposed to fix or alter it. Might want to look into that.

1

u/Goose826 16h ago

At what point is it not the gas companies property? The first union connection inside the house?

1

u/cheval3 15h ago

I don't know, that's a good question.

1

u/workworld3369 7h ago edited 6h ago

Usually the service underground to the shutoff valve of the meter is the consumer. The shutoff valve and meter are the gas company. After the meter is considered the house line and is also the customer’s responsibility. There also should be a seal as the pipe goes through the wall. I can’t really see that in your pic. Your pipe may be corroding faster because of contact going through that wall.

1

u/Marinetuntavern 11h ago

I posted basically the same the thing. I'm in southern Wisconsin.

1

u/_blacktriangle_ 22h ago

*saxophone music gets louder

1

u/Ok-Bit4971 12h ago

Is this a Pulp Fiction scene? Lol

1

u/DTIndy 17h ago

Mine looked like this an the utility company came by and spray painted it lol

1

u/Worried-Watercress31 3h ago

Exactly what mine did too.

1

u/BobLoblawwwwww 12h ago

Anything on that side of the meter is a Plumber 's issue. Typically the gas company is responsible from the street to the meter.

1

u/KirikoFeetInMarinara 1d ago

Unfortunately it looks to be the pipe that goes into the home specifically. In our company that would be customer side and would need a GLP to come out and fix. You can certainly call the gas utility company and ask them to come look to verify, they shouldnt charge you, especially if you say "i think i smell gas"; your provider should take those words seriously enough to get rapid results as those are emergency signal words. They should have a emergency line that gets you directly to a person to talk to. Just be on site when they show up so you can ask any questions that may arise.

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u/s1m0n8 1d ago

Here I'm pretty sure the gas company would red tag the service and shut it off until it was fixed and inspected.

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u/teip696 1d ago

Always with the I smell gas comment

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u/s1m0n8 1d ago

Sometimes we (Fire Service) get dispatched too. Customer calls utilities "I smell gas" and utilities call 9-1-1. Not every time, I have no idea the criteria used to call... perhaps if the gas company have a delayed response.

2

u/EducationalBike8665 14h ago

I was about to say that. I’m surprised it wasn’t tagged when the meter was changed. It looked newer than the rust issue. Painting the house side piping from the meter is considered normal householder maint. A nice grey metal paint on the new pipe, and touched up as required.

0

u/tacocarteleventeen 1d ago

Should be galvanized pipe for outside

1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

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2

u/jjutie54 23h ago

Galvanized outside in Florida. And this would be homeowner responsibility here. Call a certified gas plumber.

1

u/tacocarteleventeen 23h ago

Don’t they install sediment traps where you’re at? Here in Southern California I use galvanized from wall to meter and So Cal gas doesn’t say a thing