Hooking up a natural gas BBQ

[tvp2003]

We moved into our new place last year, and have decided to buy a BBQ this summer. There is a natural gas hookup on our deck -- however, my understanding is that I need a plumber/gas fitter to install/turn on the connection.

1. Anybody have a contact for a plumber/gas fitter who could do this relatively cheaply?

2. In regards to #1, how much should I be expecting to pay?

3. Do I need any special equipment when hooking up the BBQ, or is it pretty much plug and play? I've read about something called a "quick connect", but I won't really be moving it around much so it seems a little unnecessary...

Thanks

[psicodude]

Do you have the pipe that carries the natural gas already out to the deck? If so, it should already have an end on it that you can plug a hose directly into. Sort of like connecting a hose to a compressor. Then, just turn on the gas using the valve close to the connector. So, yeah, pretty much just plug and play.

If you don't have any of that, then I have no clue. Sorry.

[McMack]

You will probably have a quick connect on your deck with a little lever and a thing to connect your BBQ to. You don't need a gas fitter in order to operate the quick connect. If you have a natural gas BBQ, you will see instructions for attaching your BBQ to the quick connect. Google for "BBQ quick connect" to see what I am talking about.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by McMack

You will probably have a quick connect on your deck with a little lever and a thing to connect your BBQ to. You don't need a gas fitter in order to operate the quick connect. If you have a natural gas BBQ, you will see instructions for attaching your BBQ to the quick connect. Google for "BBQ quick connect" to see what I am talking about.

Nope, no quick connect, no lever. I think that's what I need to have installed (it's a new townhouse, and I remember the sales guy telling me something to that effect). I read that you can buy one at Home Depot and DIY, but quite frankly, I have no desire to be messing around with this myself. I'll be happy to pay the $100 (?) to have a professional do it.

[McMack]

Wow, that is really lame... the lamest of the lame. You will have to get a gasfitter in and they may have to pull a permit in order to get the work done. It would have cost the builder maybe another $25 to go the extra step and put in the quick connect; now it is gonna cost you something like $200 or more.

Anyway, try BBQ's Galore, they do that sort of thing.

[guzzy]

if there is already a valve on the deck it will be a 1/2" valve. Go buy some fitter's tape, 1 - 1/2"x3/8" bushing and 1 3/8" threaded pipe nipple. INstall the bushing in the valve and the nipple in the bushing. Your BBQ will have a quick connect installed. The threaded end connects to the nipple. Then re-connect the quick connect and turn on the gas. put a bit of water/dishwashing soap mix on the joints. If it bubbles you have a leak.

Go to home depot they will give you everything you need. YOu only need two wrenches to install. Just remember that you need tape on every threaded joint. It is very simple.

[firebug]

Make sure your BBQ has a burner for Natural Gas. It is different than one for propane and usually costs $50 - $100 extra.

~firebug

[McMack]

Originally Posted by guzzy

if there is already a valve on the deck it will be a 1/2" valve. Go buy some fitter's tape, 1 - 1/2"x3/8" bushing and 1 3/8" threaded pipe nipple. INstall the bushing in the valve and the nipple in the bushing. Your BBQ will have a quick connect installed. The threaded end connects to the nipple. Then re-connect the quick connect and turn on the gas. put a bit of water/dishwashing soap mix on the joints. If it bubbles you have a leak.

Go to home depot they will give you everything you need. YOu only need two wrenches to install. Just remember that you need tape on every threaded joint. It is very simple.

I think he said there was no lever which I would assume means there is just a capped line, in which case he would have to shut the gas off at the meter before installing the quick connect.

[tvp2003]

Re Permit: the sales guy never mentioned anything about a permit so I would be surprised if this was the case. In any event, I assumed this kind of thing was standard for a condo/townhouse complex (maybe it's a liability issue?)

Originally Posted by McMack

I think he said there was no lever which I would assume means there is just a capped line, in which case he would have to shut the gas off at the meter before installing the quick connect.

Yup, this is correct. I don't know if there is a shut-off valve in my house (i.e. my basement) but honestly I haven't checked. In any event, I'm not interested in doing this myself to save a couple bucks... safety and liability are worth paying the extra $ (for me anyways).

[SportsJunky]

I had it done when we bought a place last year. We had the pipe out to the deck but it had an end cap on it. I had a guy come out put on a quick connect and it was hooked up in 15min. Cost me about 100 bucks but I didn't want to fool around with it myself.

I think I used Ace Plumbing.

Also, if you search we had a thread on this a few months back with some good info in it.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

I had it done when we bought a place last year. We had the pipe out to the deck but it had an end cap on it. I had a guy come out put on a quick connect and it was hooked up in 15min. Cost me about 100 bucks but I didn't want to fool around with it myself.

I think I used Ace Plumbing.

Also, if you search we had a thread on this a few months back with some good info in it.

Awesome, thanks!

I tried searching last night but didn't come up with anything. I did another search this morning and came up with this: http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=58467 Not sure if that's what you were referring to but basically I've got the same thing as the picture but no lever (I think -- I'll doublecheck tonight).