Gas Line Soap Test, Reduce Pressure?

Molo

Molo

Member
Messages
922
Reaction score
2
Points
18
Location
Cold New York
I was talking with an HVAC guy and he said that you should not do a soap test with 15psi on a gas line. He said the pressure should be reduced otherwise the bubbles will pop and not be seen at high pressure. Would you folks agree?
 
During my short stint as an apprentice, the guys I worked with used their propane torch to test for gas leaks. I'm not kidding.
 
It is senseless to do the open flame test but I was told it is safe in that there needs to be oxygen present and in the pipe is nothing but gas so the only flame that could ever occur is at the leak.
 
I use some stuff called big blue micro leak detector solution. Its used for refregeration lines that are around 150 - 200 or more psi and it will bubble a lot and not blow off
 
We use water/soap mixtures to find leaks in 175psi pneumatic lines and 60 psi propane lines and it works great. I also use the same method for finding leaks in tires in the 35 – 80psi range.



molo said:
I was talking with an HVAC guy and he said that you should not do a soap test with 15psi on a gas line. He said the pressure should be reduced otherwise the bubbles will pop and not be seen at high pressure. Would you folks agree?
Click to expand...
 
leaks

I use kid's bubble solution. It sticks to the joints better and will show even a small leak in a few minutes. A gas sensor is useless if you are testing with air, which is the case when you have 10 psi in the system, as per code. New systems, and those with the meter locked because of a leak, will show nothing when using an electronic gas detector.
 
hj said:
I use kid's bubble solution. It sticks to the joints better and will show even a small leak in a few minutes. A gas sensor is useless if you are testing with air, which is the case when you have 10 psi in the system, as per code. New systems, and those with the meter locked because of a leak, will show nothing when using an electronic gas detector.
Click to expand...

I should of said I use the electronic detector to find leaks on gas lines that are in service. I do not do new construction, but I do get called out by people that smell gas.
 
leak

That is different, but here, we usually do not get called until AFTER they smell a leak and call the gas utility. Then the gas company turns the meter off and locks it, until the gas leak is located, repaired, tested, and approved by the city. THEN the city calls the utility to have the gas turned back on by the utility.
 
Here all it takes is someone (anyone, complete stranger walking by) to say they smell gas and the meter gets locked out.
 
Not a problem with me as I would quit plumbing all together before I installed CSST anywhere.
 
molo said:
I was talking with an HVAC guy and he said that you should not do a soap test with 15psi on a gas line. He said the pressure should be reduced otherwise the bubbles will pop and not be seen at high pressure. Would you folks agree?
Click to expand...

Technically he's right. Up here in BC you don't need to soap test a gas line upon new installation. The gas line is subject to a pressure test.

You need to do a soap test though when you repair piping or make alterations. Ofcourse you could always re-pressure test the new system.

Low pressure systems are subject to a pressure test of 15pis for 15 minutes. If the system holds @ 15 psi for the 15 minutes you obviously don't have a leak. Even a small leak will drop the guage.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

W
Pressure testing hydronic heating line
Replies
0
Views
1K
wworden
W
F
Gas line integrity based on?
Replies
3
Views
3K
Jeff H Young
Jeff H Young
F
Generac Natural Gas Line
Replies
9
Views
9K
John Gayewski
John Gayewski
Daniel7
Wall hung toilet and pressure test
Replies
1
Views
327
Daniel7
Daniel7
Ron6519
Gas line extension through drip leg?
Replies
0
Views
2K
Ron6519
Ron6519
Back
Top