Gas line install problem

Last year I Tee'd off my home's gas line to run a new line to a gas stove that I upgraded to. I was pleased to find how easy it was and passed inspection without problem. I put another Tee into the new line to allow easy expansion for a future gas dryer or line out to the grill.

My grill propane tank just ran out so I converted the grill to natural gas and ran a line out to the grill. The problem now is the stove isn't getting gas to it and won't light. The grill works fine. If I go out and turn the grill on for even just a second though, the stove will then light and work fine. I can then relight the stove for the next 30-45 minutes, after that it wont work unless I go and briefly turn the grill on again.

Anyone know what's up with that? The only thing I can think of is air trapped in the line.

Scott

air

Any air in the line will be pushed out by the gas flowing to the burner. Your descsription is illogical unless the gas lines go under the floor or underground.

If you cap off the T where the grill line is attached, does the stove then operate normally? When you disconnect the grill line to do that, does water dribble out? How big are these lines?

I havent gone back to cap off the Tee as that would involve me having to crawl back under the deck and unscrew a bunch of joints that are hard to get to.

I havent seen any water come out the line when disconnecting the flex line to the grill.

From the Tee, the line to the stove is 3/4 inch and runs for about 8 inches horizontally and a foot vertically, then reduces to (I think) a 3 foot 1/2" flex line into the stove. The line to the grill drops down from the Tee about 5 inches to where i put a 3/4, 1/2, 3/4 Tee. I capped the 3/4" end. The grill line runs about 8 feet horizontally out the 1/2" end, makes a couple turns and then goes up about 2 feet to the shut off valve. From the valve is a 3 foot, 1/4" flex line to the grill.

thanks,

Scott

This is a pilotless stove, I guess? If you turn on a stove burner (after doing the grill thing) will it stay on, or does it die after 30-45 minutes? If you leave the grill on during that time does the stove's behavior change? I gather the grill always behaves normally.

Full disclosure: I'm stumped and stalling for time.

I'll try leaving the stove on for 45 minutes when I get hoem tonight.
With the grill on the stove works just fine.

I'm going to try purging the pipes of any air tonight too. Just doing that cause i'm stumped as well.

gas

IT is not air. It sounds like it could be water, but we would have to see how the piping is installed to decide if that is the problem.

sounds like you have a dried up mud ball or obstruction inside the tee that is acting like a "ball" check valve.When you open the grill the mudball jumps in the tee to a different location allowing gas to get through, once you turn it off it drops back into a blocked position until the gas grill sucks it out again. It was a crawl job, right? chances are you have debris in that tee. Hmmmmm

almost forgot to give a repair solution. Disconnect your meter, install a gauge at the flex at your bbq, turn off gas valves at all appliances, water heaters,heating units,stove etc. shoot about 100 psi air through the system via the gauge at the bbq and hopefully the obstruction mud ball,water etc will blow out of the pipe stub out at the meter. You want to purge in the direction of the larger pipe so that it will expell. Do not forget to turn off all of your gas valves first!! You will blow the diaphrams in the regulators at all appliances.
Good luck.

So I get home last night from work. Stove works fine. Tried it again before going to sleep...no problems. This morning...works like a charm. We'll see what today brings.

Mud ball sounds reasonable. I was crawling aroung in dirt but had duct taped the ends of the pipe to avoid such a problem. When I was running the pipe through the wall though, it's possible some debris got in the pipe. The way the pipes run though, I would like if it were blocking anything it would be the grill line. The grill line is 1/2 inch and the stove line is 3/4. Unless it is at the 1/2 inch flex line going into the stove. I disconnected that the other day and didnt see any obvious problems. Also The grill line also drops down 5 inches off the Tee, the debris would have to travel up that. I do have drip ends installed at appropriate locations, maybe the stuff dislodged and fell into one of them. Maybe I'll disconnect them and have a look.

Should the problem return, I'll try your remedy. When I put the stove line in last year, I put a union in between the stove line and the house line. I could probably just disconnect that, hook the air compressor up at the grill end and then pretend I am winterizing my sprinkler system.

Thanks, scott

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