| Today, natural gas lines have developed very | | | | the iron pipes is much more difficult and |
| much. Thus, you may have the surprise that | | | | complicated to do, as it requires |
| the pipelines installed in your house may not | | | | professional precise measurement, cutting, |
| be the usual heavy black iron ones, but new | | | | and threading of all natural gas lines, taken |
| flexible pipes made of stainless steel. The | | | | each in its turn. In addition, all of these |
| new piping systems install very easily with | | | | steps are time consuming and if you consider |
| very little mess, similarly to electrical | | | | adding natural gas lines later, you will have |
| wires installation. Such natural gas lines | | | | to deal with a lot more mess. However, the |
| contain corrugated stainless steel tubing, | | | | good thing about the old method is that you |
| also known as CSST. This material has | | | | do not need to anticipate the addition of |
| received worldwide approval for residential | | | | more lines when installing the original |
| use and the system used consists of an | | | | system. |
| ingenious method of supplying natural gas to | | | | |
| different devices, such as fireplaces, | | | | Another very important advantage of using |
| furnaces, stoves, dryers and any other | | | | corrugated stainless steel tubing is that it |
| appliance that works on gas. | | | | minimizes potential gas leaks. The old iron |
| | | | pipeline system is much more complicated, as |
| Moreover, adding natural gas lines on a later | | | | it has many ninety degree, tee and coupling |
| date is very easy to do as long as you plan | | | | fittings. All these fittings are useful |
| for this possibility when installing the | | | | whenever a change of direction is necessary |
| original installation. Nowadays, state and | | | | and they are quite a common source of gas |
| local authorities throughout the world permit | | | | leakage. In addition, the threaded joints |
| the use of these natural gas lines and more | | | | also constitute potential leakage points. On |
| and more contractors start to embrace it, as | | | | the other hand, the corrugated stainless |
| it is a much safer and functional method. | | | | steel tubing is much more flexible and |
| | | | instead of needing cutting, it simply winds |
| This material first appeared as useful during | | | | around corners and obstructions in one piece. |
| the late 1980s and, in the beginning, people | | | | Thus, you will not have to deal with more |
| were afraid to use it, as even some | | | | fittings, just one at each end of the natural |
| contractors of natural gas lines considered | | | | gas line. Moreover, in case of leakage, the |
| the method rather unsafe. However, the | | | | CSST fittings are very easy to access for |
| arguments sustaining the lack of safety of | | | | adjustments. |
| these pipelines have never benefited from | | | | |
| support. The professional contractors | | | | However, the idea that corrugated stainless |
| realized that they have been already using | | | | steel tubing is a do-it-yourself type of |
| similar brass appliance connector tubing in | | | | installation is not accurate. It is true that |
| situations when adding natural gas lines was | | | | the installation of this method is much |
| necessary for clothes dryers or gas ranges. | | | | easier and less time consuming, but it still |
| Thus, the method was not all that new, just | | | | needs professional installers accustomed with |
| that its introduction functioned as a | | | | the small nuances of this new gas tubing |
| replacement of the old iron natural gas | | | | system. The person who attempts installing |
| lines. | | | | such a system should have an authorized |
| | | | license to practice. There are two methods of |
| The corrugated stainless steel tubing is much | | | | installing the CSST system: the series and |
| more advantageous than the older method. One | | | | the parallel ones. The first method is the |
| of the biggest advantages of the CSST method | | | | same as the one used for installing the iron |
| is the labor savings. The traditional lines | | | | gas lines and it is usually the easiest |
| take a much longer period to cut and thread. | | | | method, as a larger pipe supplies natural gas |
| The new material is much lighter in weight | | | | to other smaller branches that feed different |
| and a lot easier to install, as the system | | | | appliances. The parallel method is, however, |
| functions the same as the one associated with | | | | superior, as it installs as a wire system, |
| the electrical wires. The material only needs | | | | all lines starting from a central |
| pulling between two points and then cutting | | | | distribution point. Adding natural gas lines |
| to the necessary length, by using simple | | | | in such a system requires extra gas ports |
| tubing cutters. On the other hand, installing | | | | located on the manifold within the panel. |