mtnelectrical
Senior Member
- Location
- Essex, New Jersey
how you proceed when you find a gas pipe in the ceiling fixture.do you call a plumber or you remove it yourself?
gas pipe on ceiling fixture
- Thread starter mtnelectrical
- Start date
- Status
weressl
Esteemed Member
The original lighting conversion from gas-lighting to electricity WAS using the gas piping to hold the conductors.
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
I would say that depends on three things:
1. Are there electric wires coming in through the gas pipe? If so, go for it yourself.
2. Is the gas pipe apparently abandoned and open at the fixture? Go for it unless you get to a closed gas valve along the way or you are in an area with strong trade work restrictions.
3. Is the pipe capped off at the fixture and so conceivably may actually have a gas supply connected? Definitely consider getting a plumber in.
mtnelectrical
Senior Member
- Location
- Essex, New Jersey
The pipe is capped and it pressurized now. It is a 3/8" black k pipe..
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
Leave it there untouched if its presence is not a code violation. Otherwise call for a plumber.
Maybe someone had a gas infrared heater hanging from the ceiling at one time???
mtnelectrical
Senior Member
- Location
- Essex, New Jersey
No, it is the really old set up that was used for illumination . I think by the 1940's or earlier.
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PetrosA
Senior Member
- Location
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
I ran into this in Boston changing a hanging light for my mom years ago. The old gas lines were "supposed" to be off, but they weren't. I wouldn't mess with this yourself. A lot of gas can pour out of a 3/8" line 
- Location
- Massachusetts
I ran into this in Boston changing a hanging light for my mom years ago. The old gas lines were "supposed" to be off, but they weren't. I wouldn't mess with this yourself. A lot of gas can pour out of a 3/8" line
Pretty much every house around Boston and there is nothing to mess with.
You change the fixture and leave the pipe as it was.
RICK NAPIER
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
These are pretty old lines running throughout the house. I would tell the owners to contact a plumber sometimes they can disconnect these lines leaving gas service to the appliances still in use.
Sierrasparky
Senior Member
- Location
- USA
- Occupation
- Electrician ,contractor
It's gas. Don't mess with it unless you are a licensed plumber. Have the owner call in a plumber. This needs to be dealt with properly.
A live gas line has no buisiness in a electrical box or fixture.
A live gas line has no buisiness in a electrical box or fixture.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Not all "plumbers" are also "fuel and gas" piping experts.
- Location
- Massachusetts
I really don't think you understand just how common this is in some areas.
Entire neiborhoods with each room having a gas line in the center of the ceiling. Many are dead many are live. I always just worked around them.
Sierrasparky
Senior Member
- Location
- USA
- Occupation
- Electrician ,contractor
This maybe common. However I don't think a gas line is allowed in NON rated electrical fixture or outlet box. The line needs to disconnected from the supply. Someone will get hurt.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Considering how long most of them have been there with no more gas usage, I think statistics will indicate that risk is not very high. It may still be a good idea to remove them whenever possible, but probably is not such a danger anyone is mandating immediate removal of all that are still existing.
- Location
- Massachusetts
They are not allowed in a box now, they were than and we are not required to change things just because the code changed.
That is up to the HO not me.
How?
How is a capped black iron pipe more dangerous than a gas stove, dryer, furnace that has open gas lines near open wiring?
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
Because some sparky or HO may decide to unscrew it to get a lower box fill for his wires?
PetrosA
Senior Member
- Location
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Imagine a 19 year old me and a sawzall... I had cut many a gas pipe like that here in PA by then, but the one in my mom's place was the first live one I ever saw.
I remember they used to have a special threaded mount for the pancake.
jaylectricity
Senior Member
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Occupation
- licensed journeyman electrician
Because some sparky or HO may decide to unscrew it to get a lower box fill for his wires?
Natural selection.
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
With the unfortunate possibility of second-hand cluelessness. (A concept I just christened.)
- Status