lead gas pipes

Wammer · 3 May 2007

In my house I have lead gas pipes running to gas fires. I have recently installed central heating and don't need these fires any more so I want the gas to be capped as close to the supply as possible to minimism the ammount of gas running through my house (my brother's house set on fire due to an old lead gas pipe. I've recently had a plumber look at this and he didn't seem sure as to whether he could cap these with screw on capping ends similar to what would be used on copper. My gut reaction is that they should be soldered?

JohnD · 3 May 2007

soldering lead pipes needs an old plumber, but there are special rules for pipes carrying gas (must be more leak-proof than is permitted for water pipes). An experienced Corgi should know. Can't he cap them where they branch off near the meter? Is there a copper pipe to the CH boiler?

corgiman · 3 May 2007

I am not 100% sure but I dont think lead is an appropriate material to run gas in anymore

sure one of the other Girly Swots will know

Best get them gone anyway cos you are going to find hard to find some willing OR able to do the work for u

gas4you · 3 May 2007

Compression fittings can only be used on gas where they are visible and accessable.

I agree with JohnD, If the gas boiler is all you are using now I would disconnect at /near gas meter, probably fit a new meter union and connect direct to copper supplying boiler

Wammer · 3 May 2007

There is copper near to the boiler but I failed to mention I do actually want to keep one gas fire some distance away from the boiler and the other unwanted pipes branch off this one so assuming that I keep one main stretch of lead piping how should the disconected ends be capped?

JohnD · 3 May 2007

If you can get under the floor, it could still be less trouble to run new copper.

Lead skills are dying out, and you are right, it is undesirable in a fire as it melts.

Wammer · 3 May 2007

Thanks very much for your helpful speedy responses

bogstandard · 4 May 2007

Agree much safer to tidy up and use all copper.

Nige F · 4 May 2007

JohnD said:
If you can get under the floor, it could still be less trouble to run new copper.

Lead skills are dying out, and you are right, it is undesirable in a fire as it melts.

I think they used to run soft solder ..rather than "wipe" a joint like us proper plumbers did

and gas pipe may have been a lead alloy.....best out of it totally and replaced by a proper CORGI gasman

not a dodgy old plumber

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lead gas pipes

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