Old gas pipe?

[ETOH]

I’ve got an old pipe coming out of the floor that I need out of the way for my current remodel. I believe it to be a gas line based on location and routing to an adjacent room that has an old gas heater Insert in the fireplace. What I don’t know is if it is live or not. There are no working fixtures on this floor that use gas. I cannot track it back to the basement as there is a finished drywall ceiling in this area.

i will 100% be using a plumber to cap it off if it is live. I’ve read about the soapy water on a fitting and slowly unscrew looking for bubbles technique. Which I’m willing to try, but it appears there is maybe a cutoff valve that I can turn instead. I have attached a pic of what I think is a cutoff valve. Curious if anyone recognizes it. Pretty sure there was a gas heater in the bathroom wall in the original 1925s bathroom.

thanks in advance

 

[Terry]

You will want to remove the union and cap it there if you don't plan on using gas in that room. It's too bad you don't see or have access to the line further down.

Or capped somewhere. The less fittings left the better.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Jadnashua]

The plumber or the gas company can shut off the gas for a moment, and you can take things apart enough to cap or plug the line depending on where you take it apart. In a typical home situation, the gas pressure is about 0.5psi, so, not huge.

 

[Plumber69]

Unfamiliar with that valve with 2 outputs? I see lots off old water lines and heating pipes that look like that in my town

 

[Mr tee]

The valve looks like part of an old appliance and the second outlet would be for a pilot.

 

[DavidDeBord]

I’ve got an old pipe coming out of the floor that I need out of the way for my current remodel. I believe it to be a gas line based on location and routing to an adjacent room that has an old gas heater Insert in the fireplace. What I don’t know is if it is live or not. There are no working fixtures on this floor that use gas. I cannot track it back to the basement as there is a finished drywall ceiling in this area.

i will 100% be using a plumber to cap it off if it is live. I’ve read about the soapy water on a fitting and slowly unscrew looking for bubbles technique. Which I’m willing to try, but it appears there is maybe a cutoff valve that I can turn instead. I have attached a pic of what I think is a cutoff valve. Curious if anyone recognizes it. Pretty sure there was a gas heater in the bathroom wall in the original 1925s bathroom.

thanks in advance
View attachment 64973

Greetings,

I'm new here as of today, so forgive me if I fumble my way around here, as I get used to the forum.

That old "mud" coming coming out of the joints reminds me of many an HVAC/Electrical installation that I've been on in Price Hill/Cinti., Ohio, where homes were built in the late 1800s, early 1900s.

That valve is for an much older heater, that incorporated the Burner feed & pilot, and in many cases they were known as "Angel Makers", due to the improper venting & lack of combustion.

And, judging from the orientation of the outlet of that valve, it has already been turned away from the room, meaning that I wouldn't trust just placing a cap on the supply line, after the valve is dismounted.

"adjacent room that has an old gas heater Insert in the fireplace."

I can't speak, for any other Code Authority, other than those that I have worked with, Residential/Commercial, being The city of Cinti., the Counties of Hamilton, Clermont, Brown, Adams, Butler & Warren, but,.... If You are working under a permit, there is a very, very, strong chance that You will not be allowed to use that "old gas heater Insert in the fireplace" unless You refurbish it, to where it meets Today's Mechanical Code, and that would become very expensive when the spec sheets/schematics submitted to the AHJ, materials & labor are all counted.

Since You appear to be carrying out a Major Remodeling, my recommendation is to back track that gas line clear back to the supply line, even if it is necessary to cut some inspection holes in the walls, floor, & or ceiling, so as to track it, & disconnect it, & cap it off, if You are still using gas in the house. In lieu of that method, You could tap on the pipe, in order to track it down, & that would involve having one or more people to help.

A "Wild thought" here,... You might be able to use a Transponder/Reciever such as what I use on tracking down Electrical Circuits, which is a "One man job", but, I've never had to do that, for I've never had a Piping System that I couldn't trace out.

Good Luck!

 

[ETOH]

Thanks for the reply. The old heater in the fireplace does not get used. I actually don’t even know how to turn it on . It just helped bolster the idea that it is in fact a gas line. I haven’t tried the soapy water yet to see if it’s even active or not. I may just have my plumber deal with it.

 

[DavidDeBord]

ETOH,

If,... You are not sure about the matter, & have no experience in how to proceed, then YES, especially "IF" the Gas has not been shut off, then bring in a Professional.

Otherwise, the potential is there to cause harm to Life &/or property.

 

[Fitter30]

That vale looks open by the position of the stop. Just put a adjustable wrench on the square shaft and turn it counter clockwise. Regardless if the line has gas or not remove the valve and cap or plug the line.