Have you been thinking about getting a new gas line installed? Maybe you have an upcoming project that’ll require one to be run? Or possibly you’re just interested in learning more about the benefits behind gas-powered appliances? Nonetheless, whenever you’re dealing with a gas line, it’s important to make sure a licensed plumber is on site. Any issues arising from a gas line leak can not only cause damage to your property, but also pose a serious health threat to everyone occupying the house.
Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, we understand the care and caution that needs to go into every plumbing repair, particularly so with gas lines. All of our licensed plumbing technicians have the required training and licensing to install gas lines, and will always ensure safety is the top priority. This week on the blog, we’re going to walk you through the many benefits of installing a gas line, as well as a few questions you should run by the contractor before hiring them for the job.
Why Should You Install a New Gas Line?
Old, Damaged Lines
Sewer lines, water lines, gas lines, you name it! There’s plenty of different pipes that help your home operate on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately, no piping material is built to last forever. Due to everyday wear and tear, they’ll all eventually need to be repaired or replaced. Gas lines are no different. If you ever notice any old gas lines that appeared to be damaged from corrosion or even a cracked seal, it’s important to get them replaced as soon as possible.
Expanding Your Living Space
There’s no denying the fact that outdoor living areas have rapidly grown in popularity over the last decade here in Kansas City. Whether you’re going all in with a pool or just having a patio installed, an outdoor living space is the perfect idea for creating an area where you can unwind and relax after a long day. Well, on this topic, a couple popular elements many homeowners have included in their designs are fire-pits and grill stations. And trust us, when these are run by natural gas or propane, it can be the perfect focal point of your outdoor set-up. Plus, starting up a gas-powered fire pit is a lot simpler than doing so with a wood-burning fire pit. No more buying wood to keep the fire going. Plus, the fire glass you can have installed on top will surely be a hit at your next backyard get-together!
With all this said, we’re going to break it down by those who (1) already have a patio installed or (2) are planning on hiring a landscaping contractor to perform the work in the future:
Let’s start with the latter as that is the easier scenario. Make sure to communicate your intentions to the landscaper that you’ll be planning on running a gas line. Then, get with your plumber, to see what size of sleeve they’d like run under the concrete. The landscaper runs this sleeve and then pours the patio on top. Trust us, this makes everyone’s lives much easier!
The second scenario involves those homeowners who already have an existing patio in place and no sleeve run. In these situations, you’re typically not going to get it replaced without tearing out some of the concrete unfortunately! As you can see, being proactive in future gas features will save you plenty of headaches in the long run!
Connecting New Rooms
Another reason for installing a gas line goes off a similar theme as the point mentioned above, just on a bigger scale. For those planning to have some construction done to add on new rooms to the house and looking for them to be supplied with gas, then you’ll need to run new lines to these areas. It’s as simple as that!
New Plumbing Appliances
Just as was the case with installing a fire pit or outdoor grill stations, you’ll also need a gas line any time you’re looking to add an appliance powered by gas. The most popular appliance to consider would be a gas water heater. Sometimes, you’re able to avoid running a completely new gas line, as you can utilize existing lines. However, for those looking to add multiple gas-powered appliances, new lines will probably need to be installed.
Gas Fire Pits
Before moving on, I wanted to touch on the idea of gas fire pits one more time. This is a common concern many homeowners have prior to proceeding with a landscaping or hardscaping project. They ponder whether it makes more sense to save a few bucks and go with a wood-burning fire pit, or have a gas line run. While there are certainly pros and cons for each option, here’s a few added benefits of a gas-powered fire pit:
- Smoke-Free – One of the major deterrents of a wood-burning fire pit is the increased amount of smoke it produces. If there’s any wind outside, it’s going to be blowing the smoke in the eyes of anyone sitting around. Coughing follows and all of a sudden, it’s not as peaceful as you’d envisioned. With a gas fire pit, there’s little to be worried about here. They don’t produce any smoke and you can peacefully enjoy your new outdoor feature!
- Environmentally Friendly – Going right along with the point above, when there’s no smoke, there’s no need to worry about polluting the surrounding air.
- Simple and Safe – As you’d likely guess, the only way to operate a wood-burning fire pit is to acquire some fire wood and then burn it in the pit. This will then create ash or embers that you’ll need to clean out. Not necessarily the worst thing to deal with, but it can also be a hassle at times. When referencing gas fire pits, it’s as easy as just flipping a switch to turn it on and doing the same to shut it off. You’ll have a full flame in seconds and can instantly get the party started! Clean-up is a breeze as well, since no ashes will be created in the process.
- Customization – Even though, as plumbers, we’re just responsible for running the gas line out to the pit, we have to admit that we’ve seen some pretty cool creations come after our work is done! From natural stone surrounding the pit to sparkling fire glass on top, it’s safe to say you won’t be limited when it comes to customizing your dream fire pit!
Additional Benefits of Installing a Gas Line
Reliability
Here in Kansas City, most people have witnessed a storm knocking out the power at least one time or another. With gas lines, there’s no need to worry about this and you’ll always have plenty of gas-powered fuel at your disposal (even when the power goes out)!
Higher Home Value
Believe it or not, installing a new gas line can actually increase the value of your home. Most real estate agents would agree that homes utilizing efficient/reliable energy have always been a popular option for prospective homebuyers. As such, incorporating gas-powered features could be a major calling card in getting your home sold!
Efficient
Anyone who has had natural gas as a part of their day-to-day life would agree that it can certainly be a more efficient option. Whether that be cooking on a gas stove, running various gas-powered appliances or even providing heat for your home, it does so efficiently. To add to it, appliances (like water heaters or dryers) running on natural gas tend to consume a lower amount of energy than their electric-powered counterparts.
What to Ask Your Contractor?
Prior to officially hiring any plumbing contractor for a gas line project, make sure you feel confident in their ability to get the job done. Just as a new gas line can provide a wide array of benefits for you, it can also create some serious issues if handled incorrectly. Take the time to ask them questions like:
- Are you licensed to work with gas lines?
- Do your technicians have experience running gas lines? Keep in mind that not all plumbers have this in their background, so it’s an important question to ask!
- Is your company insured with liability and workers compensation insurance?
- Are you familiar with local codes? Depending on where you live, there can be different codes that contractors must be aware of! This is one of the major benefits of hiring someone that’s worked in your particular city or town before!
Call Stine-Nichols!
Our licensed plumbing technicians run countless new gas lines each and every year for Kansas City homeowners. As evidenced throughout this blog, there’s a number of reasons as to why someone may consider having one installed. If you’re on the fence about having one installed or would simply just like a professional opinion as to how this could affect you, don’t hesitate to give our team a call at (816) 348-3481. You’re also more than welcome to fill out this form on our website and a member of our team will be in touch! As always, we work all around Kansas City and many of the surrounding cities. We’re happy to provide free quotes for all projects and look forward to helping you with all of your plumbing needs!