Q: Is pipefitting considered plumbing?

• <div><p>Even though their jobs sound similar&mdash;both professions work on pipes&mdash;a plumber and pipefitter actually have very different jobs, and pipefitting isn&rsquo;t considered plumbing. Pipefitting is done in commercial and industrial buildings and factories, and the pipes carry gas, chemicals, acid, and other potentially hazardous substances. Pipefitters often work in intense conditions while plumbers may work in lower-pressure environments.</p></div>

Q: What if I need to switch from natural gas to electric (or vice versa)?

• <div><p>You&rsquo;ll need to increase your budget. Since you will likely need a new outlet, factor in $120 to $200 for it. If your gas company needs to run a new gas line to your oven, expect a charge between $200 to $2,000.</p></div>

Question 1

Is pipe measured by ID or OD?

Accepted Answer

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In North America, pipe measurements are listed as the nominal pipe size (NPS). This measurement refers to the outside diameter. As an example, a 1/2-inch copper pipe has an outside diameter of 5/8 of an inch. If a hardware store lists a pipe as having a 2 NPS, it means that all the pipes with this measurement have a 2 ⅜-inch outside diameter, regardless of wall thickness and inside diameter.

Question 2

Can you vent a gas water heater out the side of the house?

Accepted Answer

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You can and should vent the gas from your hot water heater to the outside of your home. Traditionally, these gases were vented back to other gas appliances, like stoves or furnaces, but many jurisdictions have outlawed this practice due to the risks it provides.

Most water heaters today use atmospheric venting that exhausts the gas out of the home through a pipe.

Question 3

Are there standard pipe sizes?

Accepted Answer

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Yes. There are a variety of standard pipe sizes used in plumbing. The main supply line connecting your home to the street is either 3/4 or 1 inch in diameter. Supply lines are 3/4 inch in diameter. Individual components are 1/2 inch in diameter. Meanwhile, your main drainpipe is often 4 inches wide. Most shower and bathtub drains are 2 inches in diameter, most toilet drains are 3 inches in diameter, and most sink drainpipes are 1 1/4 or 1 ½ inches in diameter.

Question 4

Is pipefitting considered plumbing?

Accepted Answer

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Even though their jobs sound similar—both professions work on pipes—a plumber and pipefitter actually have very different jobs, and pipefitting isn’t considered plumbing. Pipefitting is done in commercial and industrial buildings and factories, and the pipes carry gas, chemicals, acid, and other potentially hazardous substances. Pipefitters often work in intense conditions while plumbers may work in lower-pressure environments.

Question 5

What if I need to switch from natural gas to electric (or vice versa)?

Accepted Answer

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You’ll need to increase your budget. Since you will likely need a new outlet, factor in $120 to $200 for it. If your gas company needs to run a new gas line to your oven, expect a charge between $200 to $2,000.