Q: Is pipe size inside or outside diameter?

• <div><p>The size of a pipe isn&rsquo;t always the outside or inside diameter. Rather, it&rsquo;s a nominal diameter that depends on the type of pipe. For male pipes, you&rsquo;ll need to measure the outside diameter. For female pipes, you&rsquo;ll need to measure the inside diameter. You&rsquo;ll then need to use a nominal diameter conversion chart to get the actual pipe size you&rsquo;d buy in the store.</p></div>

Q: What should I ask a plumber before hiring them to cap a gas line?

• <div><p>Before you <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/should-i-hire-specialty-natural-gas-plumber.htm">hire a natural gas plumber</a>, it&rsquo;s a good idea to get quotes from multiple pros to find the best value. When speaking with prospective plumbers, ask them if they&rsquo;re licensed to work with gas lines, what precautions they take to ensure safety during the project, and how to handle an emergency if there&rsquo;s a leak after the job. You may also want to know about warranties or guarantees, additional costs, how to prep your home, and if you&rsquo;ll need to relight your pilot lights.</p></div>

Question 1

How can I ensure a steady supply of propane for my needs?

Accepted Answer

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To ensure a steady propane supply, schedule regular deliveries with your provider, monitor usage, and consider keeping a backup supply for emergencies.

Question 2

Should a plumber be licensed and certified to install gas lines?

Accepted Answer

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Yes, most states require a plumber to be licensed, and for good reason. Hiring an unlicensed plumber could lead to poor quality work, costly future expenses, and potential code violations. Check our state licensing tool to review the local plumber guidelines.

As you browse our pro listings, take note of the “Angi Approved” badge. Angi Approved businesses meet our standards for certification, which include:

The owner, principal, or relevant manager passed a criminal background check
Required to have applicable state and local licenses
Maintain an average star rating of 3.0 or better on our network, if they have at least one review
Paying to advertise their services
Meeting any other eligibility criteria required by Angi

Keep in mind licensing is different from certifications. A license is a legal requirement to operate a business, while certifications are voluntary.

Question 3

Is pipe size inside or outside diameter?

Accepted Answer

•

The size of a pipe isn’t always the outside or inside diameter. Rather, it’s a nominal diameter that depends on the type of pipe. For male pipes, you’ll need to measure the outside diameter. For female pipes, you’ll need to measure the inside diameter. You’ll then need to use a nominal diameter conversion chart to get the actual pipe size you’d buy in the store.

Question 4

What should I ask a plumber before hiring them to cap a gas line?

Accepted Answer

•

Before you hire a natural gas plumber, it’s a good idea to get quotes from multiple pros to find the best value. When speaking with prospective plumbers, ask them if they’re licensed to work with gas lines, what precautions they take to ensure safety during the project, and how to handle an emergency if there’s a leak after the job. You may also want to know about warranties or guarantees, additional costs, how to prep your home, and if you’ll need to relight your pilot lights.

Question 5

How long does it take to install a gas line?

Accepted Answer

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Installing a gas line is no simple task. From start to finish, you’re looking at anywhere from six to 12 weeks to acquire the correct permits, dig a trench, and connect your appliances. Naturally, the longer the gas line, the longer it will take to complete. If your plumber needs to hire additional contractors to dig trenches and navigate around or remove obstacles, this could put you at the longer end of the timeframe.

Once the land is prepped and licenses acquired, installing the actual line may only take a few days to a few weeks, weather permitting.