Copper pipes touching duct work

[loob job]

Hey all, I've read and seen on tv that your copper gas pipe in your house should not be touching other metals due to a reaction between the two metals that cause corrosion. I know this is true but how big of a deal is it? My copper natural gas pipes touch my duct work in a few places in my furnace room. Should i be worried about it at all? 15 year old house.

[You Need a Thneed]

Corrosion can cause holes in pipe, Natural gas pipe holes can = BOOM!

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

First of all, are you sure your gas lines are copper?
I thought gas lines were usually steel (I could be wrong on this).

Secondly, you're only going to get a reaction if there is moisture around.
Two pipes just touching in the air shouldn't be a problem.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

First of all, are you sure your gas lines are copper?
I thought gas lines were usually steel (I could be wrong on this).

You are not wrong, they are made out of steel, and heavy gauge at that. If you are seeing copper lines touching your heating ducts, it would be for water, not gas.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

You are not wrong, they are made out of steel, and heavy gauge at that. If you are seeing copper lines touching your heating ducts, it would be for water, not gas.

Natural Gas lines can be copper too.

[Rjcsjc62]

If you have a copper pipe touching metal duct work you could eventually wear little pits or holes in the pipe. Regardless of whether or not the pipe is gas, or water (although electrolysis would happen faster if it is water).

All you need is a strip of duct tape to separate these 2 dis-similar metals are you have nothing to worry about.

But if you really want to go the extra mile, insulate the pipe with armour-flex (sp?)

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Natural Gas lines can be copper too.

Seriously? Wow....I've always seen steel. A home inspector I am not but I've never seen copper used for gas before. Is that still in use today?

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Seriously? Wow....I've always seen steel. A home inspector I am not but I've never seen copper used for gas before. Is that still in use today?

not often, but I've definitely seen it on Holmes Inspection several times, and the OP's scenario always gets criticized pretty harshly.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

First of all, are you sure your gas lines are copper?
I thought gas lines were usually steel (I could be wrong on this).

Secondly, you're only going to get a reaction if there is moisture around.
Two pipes just touching in the air shouldn't be a problem.

It is a problem, that's why it's against code to do it. Air contains evaporated water.

In a furnace room where there is a humidifier and combustion of natural gas in the furnace and hot water tank I would assume there is a lot of moisture in the air.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Seriously? Wow....I've always seen steel. A home inspector I am not but I've never seen copper used for gas before. Is that still in use today?

Copper flex tubes can be used in earthquake zones.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Barnes

Copper flex tubes can be used in earthquake zones.

Ah...so it's not common in Calgary then?

[Rjcsjc62]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Ah...so it's not common in Calgary then?

You cant solder fittings on a copper gas line, so it doesnt make sense for use as a distrubution main in a basement, for example.

I can cut and thread steel pipes with a tee going off to each appliance. I cant solder a tee onto a gas main.

Copper gas lines, are better suited as a branch line, particularily if the route is concealed, because it is seamless. It is easier to run a copper tube behind a wall, under a floor, under ground through a sleeve, or in a trailer, then it would be to run steel pipes.

Also, copper is expensive.