No shut off valve on the gas line...

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MGauley

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I'm replacing my old water heater and when I went to trace the gas line to find a shut off valve, I couldn't seem to find anything but pipe. I'm planning on capping the pipe because it's getting switched to an electric tankless heater, and I have a cap that will be ready to install right away. Should I be trying this, or should I be calling the gas company to get it shut down while a make the switch? I'd rather not blow up my house just yet.
 
You can turn off your own gas supply. At the meter there should be a valve just like the one circled in the below picture. It is in the on position in the picture. To shut it off turn the valve till the two holes line up. Just when you turn it back on do so slowly.

gas-meter.jpg
Meterhand.jpg
 
Just a note. instead of just capping off the line, I would install a gas shut off valve on the line you plan on capping then put a plug in it or a short nipple with your cap. This way if you ever want to put a gas appliance back in you can remove the plug or cap and pipe to the shut off valve.
 
OK, I see something like that on my meter. Just wasn't sure that it moved or not.

Thanks
 
I'm puzzled why you would use electric tankless if you have gas available...
I anticipate a lot of disappointment with electric tankless.
 
Be VERY careful with that shutoff valve. Many of them require a special tool to turn them back on AND, since they've been outside and probably not used for maybe decades, they may not actually shut the gas off. This will depend somewhat on whether you are in a high-pressure gas area or not, but is a serious consideration, regardless.

They are made to be turned off in an emergency, but only turned on by the gas company.

Except in rare locations, an electric tankless system will be MUCH more expensive than a gas WH to operate AND will require a big supply to work, not counting the differences in intitial materials costs.
 
jadnashua said:
Be VERY careful with that shutoff valve. Many of them require a special tool to turn them back on AND, since they've been outside and probably not used for maybe decades, they may not actually shut the gas off. This will depend somewhat on whether you are in a high-pressure gas area or not, but is a serious consideration, regardless.

They are made to be turned off in an emergency, but only turned on by the gas company.

Except in rare locations, an electric tankless system will be MUCH more expensive than a gas WH to operate AND will require a big supply to work, not counting the differences in intitial materials costs.
Click to expand...

Jadnashua, that second picture I uploaded, I got that from a gas company website instructing home owners how to turn their gas off at the meter in the case of any pipe work inside needs to be done.

Around here we have high pressure gas supplies and the pressure is reduced at the meter with the pressure regulator. The gas company here will come out and show the home owners how to turn the gas on and off at the meter. The tool they all seem to use is a crescent wrench. The only word of warning they give is when you turn it back on to do it slowly, so not to hammer the pressure regulator.

MGauley, you can call your local gas company and see where they stand on you turning your gas on and off at the meter.
 
gas

Some areas, such as Michigan, use a gas meter that will lock out when it is shutoff and you have to call the utility to have it reset and turned back on. I also am curious why you would even consider an electric tankless when you have gas available, or did you buy it from a "super salesman" who convinced you that electric is the best and safest way to go?
 
Ah did not know about the gas meter valves that lock out. Here the gas company puts a locking lug through the hole.

I too have to ask why an electric tankless heater? Sorry did not ask sooner, but with everyone else asking it just now peaked my curiosity.
 
My local gas company's shutoffs look like that pictured, but only have a pin that connects to the valve in the off direction. If you then try to turn it back on, the knob turns, but doesn't connect to the valve. You need a tool inserted in the backside that actually turns it back. The gas company gets really preturbed if you turn it back on yourself...A piece of pipe with a notch cut in it works, or so I've been told;)
 
Any gas appliance that's without an gas isolation valve needs to be done under the supervision or direction of a licensed professional.

Too many variables in your situation that's going to be dangerous if that main gas shutoff doesn't shut off completely.

If you've paid your bill consistently for years, that valve will be quite difficult to turn off.

Also there will be residual gas in that line when you do this.

That electric tankless will have you selling body parts on e/b/a/y just to come up with the monthly expense.
 
Wow, sounds all too familiar when I had my water heater replaced.

For the record, you are allowed to turn your gas off at the meter (indeed you can turn anybody's off if you smell gas) but the gas company must turn it on again.

And the valve may have seized so if it is stuck or stiff to move (like mine was) you may have to call the gas company to check it and to avoid breaking it (I had to call them several times and my meter is relatively new).

Good luck. It took me weeks to get the company out to check the valve so I knew it would work. The first few visits when I was not at home they just painted the meter without checking the valve!!!!! In the end, I had a gas guy take a pair of pliers and show me it would move, before I proceeded with hiring someone to do the work.
 
Last edited:
cwhyu2 said:
Is that Si Leis?:eek:
Click to expand...

No,
Ollen Bruton Smith
#207 on fobes list... $1.5 billion
CEO Speedway Motorsports which owns eight NASCAR tracks that host eleven NASCAR Sprint Cup events. Speedway Motorsports owns Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway, Kentucky Speedway,. Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and Texas Motor Speedway.

He's also got a bid in to buy NHRA...
 
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