East Bay Gas Lines - Natural Gas Lines

Owning a home or business comes with a number of maintenance responsibilities. Utility companies understand that some of these responsibilities may even come as a surprise to you.

Utility companies are committed to providing safe, reliable services, and customer safety is their top priority, especially when it comes to keeping your home or business safe from the potential dangers of natural gas.

What are you responsible for?Customers are responsible for the maintenance of all natural gas lines extending from the meter to and within the home or business. Even though, in some cases, the natural gas service lines that run from the meter to your home or business are buried, maintenance is still required.

The natural gas system is governed by Federal regulations which recommend that customers with natural gas lines buried from the meter to the primary structure should be:

1. Periodically inspected for leaks;
2. Periodically inspected for corrosion if the piping is metallic; and
3. Repaired if any unsafe condition is discovered.

If natural gas lines are not properly maintained, they may be subject to potential hazards of corrosion and leakage. While the DOT regulations do not require that you inspect or maintain your natural gas service line, Utilities companies along with the DOT recommend that you periodically inspect them for corrosion and leaks.

How do I know if my natural gas service line is leaking?The following are some of the signs of a natural gas leak:

• Distinct natural gas odor;
• Areas of dead vegetation directly above the buried natural gas line;
• A natural gas meter dial that continues to move after all natural gas appliances and equipment have been shut off; and
• After watering or rain, bubbles appear directly above the buried piping.

If you suspect a natural gas leak, immediately call 911.

Source: www.csu.org

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East Bay Gas Lines Danville, CA - Tips for Building an Outdoor Fireplace

Tips for Building an Outdoor Fireplace

Nothing is as warm and welcoming as a roaring fire in a fireplace, be it an indoor or an outdoor fireplace. Building an outdoor fireplace is the latest trend in home landscape updates and these tips will help homeowners make informed choices for building an outdoor fireplace.

Room with a View
Use the view of the landscape to determine the best location for the outdoor fireplace. Any location in the landscape that is high, such as a ridge, will afford the best views while enjoying the warmth of the fire.
When an outdoor fireplace is added, it becomes a people magnet, literally a room with a view and space for outdoor furniture should be considered when choosing the location for the outdoor fireplace. Choose a location for the fireplace that will provide the best outdoor view and accommodate the desired outdoor furniture in the adjacent area.

Proper Fireplace Dimensions Provide Maximum Heat
The width and height of the firebox and chimney will determine the amount of draw the fireplace will have and the amount of heat it will produce. Build the fireplace with the right dimensions, either by hiring an experienced outdoor fireplace craftsman or by using a fireplace kit. Outdoor fireplace kits can be found online and will help keep the cost down by making the building a DIY project. Purchase fireplace kits from a reputable dealer that guarantees the fireplace to draw properly.
An outdoor fireplace should be at least eight feet tall to have a impressive presence in the landscape and to direct smoke away from the adjacent seating area. If future plans may include adding a roof or pergola to the outdoor space, take that into consideration when planning the height of the chimney.

Personalize the Outdoor Fireplace Design
Whether building the outdoor fireplace from scratch or from a fireplace kit, personalize the fireplace by adding a unique keystone and/or mantel brackets. Local artisans can create the perfect stone pieces to personalize the outdoor fireplace, which will create a unique look for the décor of the rest of the outdoor room.
A wood craftsman can build the perfect chunky mantel for the fireplace, or a rustic wood beam salvage from an old barn is the right scale size for an outdoor fireplace mantel. The mantel will provide a display area for personalizing the outdoor space.
Consider adding a hearth to the outdoor fireplace for personalization and seating. A hearth will raise the firebox several inches off the ground and maximize heating capacity, plus the raised hearth provides additional seating areas and space for additional touches of personalization.

Additional Tips for Building an Outdoor Fireplace
Before making any plans for building an outdoor fireplace, research your municipality's fireplace codes. Those codes will dictate what can and can not be built.
Install a natural gas line when building an outdoor fireplace. It will make starting the fires easier plus save a lot of time and expense later on if an outdoor kitchen is added.
Remove any tree limbs that overhang the top of the chimney and install a cap on the top of the chimney. Capping the top will keep out the rain, disperse the heat and capture any rising sparks.

by Georgia Lund - Yahoo

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East Bay Gas Lines Danville, CA How to Identify the LP Gas or Natural Gas Fuel Source

How to Identify the LP Gas or Natural Gas Fuel Source

Natural gas is supplied by the utility company through piping, usually buried in the street in front of or behind the building, and entering the building through a gas meter which is located outside or at older installations, possibly inside the building. Our photo (left) shows a gas meter installed indoors in a building utility basemen.

LP Gas or "bottled gas" or liquid propane gas is supplied (usually) by a local LP gas distributor who fills an LP gas tank located on and serving the building. The LP gas tank may be above ground (usually at a building exterior wall) or it may be buried at the property. Our photo (left) shows a rather large outdoor aboveground LP gas tank.

Natural gas and LP gas appliance compatibility

These two fuels are similar in that both are used to provide energy to home heating systems and other appliances but they have some different properties of operating gas pressure, weight, method of distribution, and chemistry. Most gas appliances are delivered already set up to use either natural gas or LP gas but not both.

Most gas appliances can be converted from one fuel to the other - what is involved may be simply changing gas metering orifices in the equipment (for example at the burners on a stove) or it may also be necessary to change or adjust a gas regulator located inside the appliance.

Watch out: Do not hook up an LP gas-ready appliance to a natural gas supply nor can you connect a natural-gas ready appliance to an LP gas supply without reviewing and acting on the manufacturer's instructions for converting the appliance from one fuel to the other. It is virtually always the case that some equipment adjustments and changes are necessary to switch between natural gas and propane gas.

As JR, an industry manager familiar with gas pressures pointed out, these two fuel gases operate at different pressures. In residential appliances

• Natural Gas system pressure: Natural gas operates at a nominal pressure of 7” WC (about 0.253 psi)
• LPG or Liquid Propage Gas system pressure: LP gas or propane operates at a nominal pressure of 11” WC (about 0.397 psi)
• Actual NG or LPG gas pressures vary: [Note: the exact pressure you see in the building at an appliance may vary from these numbers depending on the gas distribution piping system size, diameter, number of appliances served, number of appliances operating, regulator adjustment, and other factors. See Gas Regulators for Appliances and Gas Regulators for LP Tanks. See LP or Natural Gas Pressures for a table showing the range of variation in LP gas pressure in the tank at various temperatures. - Ed.]

If you are planning to convert from one gas fuel to another, such as from LP gas (bottled gas or liquid petroleum gas) to piped in natural gas, see our advice and safety warnings at Gas Conversion LP Natural Gas.

source: http://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Gas_Faults.php
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East Bay Gas Lines - Immediate LP Gas or Natural Gas Safety Concerns

What to Do if You Smell Gas

*** Immediate LP Gas or Natural Gas Safety Concerns:

• Gas Odors: A gas leak can be indicated by gas odor such as in the utility area near appliances or elsewhere in the building.

Here is a list of examples of other immediate LP gas or natural gas leak safety hazards that might be detected using a TIF8800™ Combustible Gas detector or using a soap solution and bubble testing:

• A gas leak in gas piping - check particularly at piping joints or in areas where there is apparent damage, corrosion, possible pin holing in the piping.
• A gas leak at the gas meter equipment. Check at meter seams and at piping connections.
• A gas leak at the gas control valve.
  • A gas leak may be found at the appliance pilot and temperature control knobs at control top.
  • A gas leak may be found at the center seam along the RH side of the control. (often on gas fired water heaters we can detect a very small trace leak of LP gas or natural gas at the side seams of the control; beware: volatiles in pipe dope or in valve label glue might also cause the TIF8800 to indicate that a leaking gas is present).
• A gas leak may be found the gas line shutoff valve.
  
• A gas leak may be found the appliance pilot line at the control.

You should have your plumber test/replace any suspect gas controls promptly. Replacement of a control itself should not involve significant expense. This repair should not be deferred. You should be sure that building occupants know if this or other unsafe conditions are present.

source: http://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Gas_Faults.php
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East Bay Gas Lines Danville, CA - Benefits of Gas Fireplace Logs

Gas logs are something that is becoming quite popular and as demand grows manufacturers are working to improve their products all the time. There are a number of these fireplaces available and these range from wall mounted, freestanding and contained units. When using these types of units, suitable ventilation is necessary to remove the residue which may be produced by a gas fire. There are many benefits of gas fireplace logs that can be received when using them.
There are two types of gas systems, natural gas and propane. There are three types of gas logs available, vented, partially vented and vent free. When gas fireplaces are installed, some will be done with a vented system to take fumes or residue to the outside.

The vented gas log is one of the more popular types. The benefits of gas fireplace logs are that they are made in a number of styles and finishes, with some designed to have a very realistic look, with logs like hickory, oak, birch and other wood types available. These logs also vary in price and those with the natural look are often in the upper price range, the more realistic the higher the price. There are also a number of sizes and the lengths can vary from twelve inches up to sixty inches.
The vented gas log fire is said to be less efficient than that of the partially vented and the vent free types, although they are however the safest. The other systems offer an almost 100% efficiency with heat generation with the vented system working to 10% below this. They have been designed to look like a wood fire with aesthetic appeal and this with their safety is their major selling point.

The benefits of gas fireplace logs, including the vent free gas log fire, works without a ventilation system in place. The levels of carbon monoxide in a house are measured by an ODS or oxygen depletion sensor which will shut the fire down should the residue reach critical levels. This helps to give the user some peace of mind. They do not have the same aesthetic appeal as the vented gas log.

The partially vented gas log is somewhere between the other two. It offers a system where it is vented but has a fireplace damper that can be partially closed to add heat to a room but also remove waste products.

by: Scott Kessman
source: voices.yahoo.com

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East Bay Gas Lines - The 3 Rs of Natural Gas Safety

The 3 Rs of Natural Gas Safety

If you think you have a natural gas emergency, go to a safe location. Then call your local utility company,  It is important that you call -- DO NOT E-MAIL -- and report the emergency. Knowing how to recognize, react to and report natural gas emergencies can eliminate or minimize their consequences. Recognize Signs of a natural gas leak include: A "rotten egg" odor A blowing or hissing sound Dead or discolored vegetation in an otherwise green area Flames, if a leak has ignited Dirt or dust blowing from a hole in the ground Bubbling in wet or flooded areas

React

If you suspect a natural gas leak, follow these steps:

• Leave the area immediately and call your local utiliy company
• Do not use any electrical device, such as light switches, telephones or appliances such as garage door openers. They could spark and ignite the gas.
• Do not use an open flame, matches or lighters
• Do not try to locate the source of the gas leak
• Do not try to shut off any gas valves or appliances
• Do not start vehicles
• Do not re-enter the building or return to the area until a Consumers Energy employee says it's safe to do so
• If the natural gas ignites, let it burn. Do not put out the flame; burning gas will not explode.
• If you are digging and think you may have damaged a natural gas pipeline, leave the area immediately. If you are using motorized equipment and can turn off the motor safely, do so to prevent the ignition of any leaking gas. Then abandon the equipment and leave the area. Never restart equipment until the surrounding environment has been checked and declared safe.

Report

It is important that you call about natural gas emergencies.

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East Bay Gas Lines - Help prevent a gas emergency in your home

Help prevent a gas emergency in your home with these safety tips:

• Natural gas lines should not be installed from the meter to any other buildings in which people live
• No building or other structure may be built over any natural gas pipeline
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions in operating and caring for natural gas appliances, and use each appliance for its intended purpose
• Never use gasoline or other flammable liquids indoors or in the same room or area as a gas appliance or other ignition source
• After a flood or other disaster, check for the odor of gas before entering any area. If gas is detected, leave the area immediately and call your local utility company. Replace any appliance submerged in water
• Ensure fuel-burning appliances are installed, used and maintained properly and safely. Hire a qualified technician to inspect heating and venting equipment annually, and use a carbon monoxide alarm that meets current standards.
• Use a broom to keep gas meters, pipes and other service equipment clear in winter. Gas-appliance chimneys and vents must be cleared after snow and ice storms to ensure proper venting and prevent carbon monoxide accumulation.
• Ensure gas space heaters are installed by a qualified professional and used and maintained properly
• Don’t use fuel lines for storage. Heavy coats or other items hanging from a fuel line (often located near the ceiling in basements) can stress the joints in the pipe and cause gas leaks. Don't allow children to swing on the pipes, either
• Set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees or lower. Check the water temperature before placing a child in the bathtub, and never leave a child alone or with other young children in the bathtub.
• Replace flexible connectors. Cracks can form and cause serious gas leaks in these flexible pipes that attach appliances to fuel lines. Limit the number of times you move natural gas appliances, and replace flexible connectors at least every 10 years with an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved model.

Source www.consumersenergy.com

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