Gas line diameter from propane tank to gas stove

[hcanning]

Hi,
We have a 1/2 inch gas pipe coming from a 120 gallon propane tank to a small gas fire. I want to add a gas stove and split the gas line to service both appliances. The distance from stove to propane tank is about 40 feet. Will a 1/2 inch gas pipe be able to adequately service both appliances with all burners and oven on and the gas fire?
Thanks

 

[SHEPLMBR]

What are your BTU's?

 

[Twowaxhack]

What’s the pressure of the supply pipe ?

 

[hcanning]

Hi,
I gather the pressure is around 250psi (but it gets regulated down to 1.5psi) I believe as per attached pic and the BTU will be max 80,000 with all burners in the stove and oven lit. Gas fire is hardly used but say 10-15,000 btu. It also appears to be a 57 gallon tank not 120. Also I heard that natural gas supplies 1000 BTU per foot while propane is good for 2500 BTU per foot? Something like that We have propane.
Thanks

 

[Twowaxhack]

Where does it get regulated down to 1.5 psi ?

It should step down in pressure even lower before connecting to the stove.

Where do you plan on installing your 1.5 psi to 11” WC regulator ?

 

[hcanning]

I've no idea. I'm the homeowner not the plumber. I'm trying to establish if the 1/2" pipe will be an Issue or not to service the 2 appliances. Thanks.

 

[hcanning]

Attached seems to suggest 40' of 1/2" pipe is good for 129,000 BTU.

 

[hcanning]

...this Propane Gas Pipe Sizing seems to suggest 1/2" of Type L copper pipe is good for 80,000 BTU

 

[Twowaxhack]

I've no idea. I'm the homeowner not the plumber. I'm trying to establish if the 1/2" pipe will be an Issue or not to service the 2 appliances. Thanks.

The answer depends where you install the regulators. 1/2” pipe will carry different amounts of gas at different pressures.

Different types of pipe will carry more or less gas. It also depends on how many fittings you install in the line snd how far the line runs.

All that said, a 1/2” line at 1.5psi will more than likely provide way more gas than you’ll need for your appliances listed at typical distances around a home. (<100’ developed length)

 

[Twowaxhack]

You could run 400’+ on a 1/2” i.d. Pipe at 1.5”psi (41.5”w.c) and still get 130k BTUs.

Compared to 40’ at 11”w.c. For the same 130btu

See how delivery pressure changes everything ?

 

[hcanning]

Thanks everyone for the help. Much appreciated. Looks promising that 1/2" gas line will work out for us.

 

[havasu]

Just don't forget that every 90 degree fitting reduces your incoming pressure substantially. I ran a 60' 1/2" black pipe with (5) 90 degree elbows to feed a 60k btu gas fireplace and I could only get a trickle of gas, and had to upgrade to 3/4". I wasted hundreds of $ and since the room was now built, I had to be an attic monkey for a week to install it.

 

[Twowaxhack]

Just don't forget that every 90 degree fitting reduces your incoming pressure substantially. I ran a 60' 1/2" black pipe with (5) 90 degree elbows to feed a 60k btu gas fireplace and I could only get a trickle of gas, and had to upgrade to 3/4". I wasted hundreds of $ and since the room was now built, I had to be an attic monkey for a week to install it.

What was the pressure ?

 

[havasu]

9psi

 

[Twowaxhack]

9psi

Possibly 9” water column

No way it was 9psi

 

[havasu]

I may be mistaken. Incoming gas is 9psi before the meter and stepped down to 1.5 psi after the meter?

 

[Twowaxhack]

I may be mistaken. Incoming gas is 9psi before the meter and stepped down to 1.5 psi after the meter?

The street line and yard line to the meter can vary greatly from city to city and neighborhood to neighborhood. Here the average is about 65psi.

Usually normal gas pressure delivered to the home after the meter regulator is 8” water column.

Some gas providers allow for 2psi after the meter regulator and then a secondary regulator is placed at each appliance that drops the pressure to the pressure specified by the appliance. Usually between 6-12” water column.

You can also build a hybrid system that will deliver higher pressure to a dedicated line. Theoretically that line could be any pressure decided on up to the street pressure that’s available.

We installed a gas line for a generator and then they decided to upgrade the generator. That made the line too small. So rather than replacing the line the gas provider changed the regulators so we had 5psi on that branch of the system.