Hotdawg gas line size?

[ripsnortMN]

Hey guys just getting around to finishing up the install on my modine 45k hotdawg. Wondering what size gas line to use to connect to the heater? Is 1/2" sufficient? The model is set up for propane. Just going with a 100# tank. What kind of sealant are you guys using as well? Teflon tape or the paste? Any info would be great guys thanks.

 

[larry4406]

I would say 1/2-inch is more than adequate. Check the label on the sealant - some are not compatible with propane. I do not use teflon tape on gas piping. I like to use Rectorseal.

 

[fatboy99]

I ran 3/4 pipe from the regulator out side to about 2 feet from the heater and then reduced down to 1/2 inch. Use paste compatible with propane tefflon tape can leave pieces of it in the line and get stuck in the valve. Pressure test for leak's make sure your not hooked to the valve when you do this if the pressure get's over 7 psi to the valve it will blow the diaphram inside it. Make sure you follow the install instruction's about the drip leg
Brad

 

[ripsnortMN]

I ran 3/4 pipe from the regulator out side to about 2 feet from the heater and then reduced down to 1/2 inch. Use paste compatible with propane tefflon tape can leave pieces of it in the line and get stuck in the valve. Pressure test for leak's make sure your not hooked to the valve when you do this if the pressure get's over 7 psi to the valve it will blow the diaphram inside it. Make sure you follow the install instruction's about the drip leg
Brad

The diaphram in the heater will blow?

 

[fatboy99]

There is a diaphram in the control valve for the burner's if the line is hooked to the control valve and you apply over 7 psi it will ruin the valve i learned the hard way ! the second time around i caped one end and installed a t fitting with a gauge and a schrader valve pressureized to 50 psi then let it sit over night pressure was the same if it's not soap up all the joint's and look for bubles. If it wont leak at that pressure it wont leak at 10" of water colum
Brad

 

[ripsnortMN]

Any of you guys have a picture of your line install with maybe a shot of the drip leg?

 

[fatboy99]

Here is a pic of my set up

 

[Northstar9126]

You really should think about contacting a propane distributor about a tank. I had a 120 gallon tank set up last Thursday for my Mr Heater. It cost me $110.45 for the lines to the pole building and the regulator on the side of the building. Nothing for labor or tank rental. I should recoup the $110 in no time with the savings in the cost of propane as it is quite expensive to have a 100 lb. bottle filled. I also don't have to wrestle with the bottle when it runs dry.

 

[ripsnortMN]

You really should think about contacting a propane distributor about a tank. I had a 120 gallon tank set up last Thursday for my Mr Heater. It cost me $110.45 for the lines to the pole building and the regulator on the side of the building. Nothing for labor or tank rental. I should recoup the $110 in no time with the savings in the cost of propane as it is quite expensive to have a 100 lb. bottle filled. I also don't have to wrestle with the bottle when it runs dry.

Wow really? I was tossing that idea around but thought it would cost to much. I suppose i could run my line to just the wall and they could hook up to that. Can i ask what company you went through? Do you know how much it is to fill it?

 

[Northstar9126]

I hooked up the heater and ran the gas line out through the side of the building where I wanted it. I dug a trench from the side of the pole building to where I wanted the tank. The gas guy showed up, set the tank, ran the line from the tank to the pole building (about 50 feet) and checked everything out. I turned on the power to the heater and it fired up a minute later. The gas guy said everything was great and left. As I said it cost me $110. I got the tank from the same company (small local outfit) that delivers propane for my house so maybe I got a deal although I highly doubt it. You really should call around about a small bulk tank. A 100 lb. bottle holds about 23.5 gallons of propane so do the math and I think that you will find that you are paying around $4.00 a gallon in the bottles. Bulk propane is at about $1.50 a gallon now. When the gas guy was here I told him that I thought about using bottles but didn't want to wrestle with them. He said that the price in bottles was so high that they were thinking about not handling them anymore as people just don't use them much anymore. So call around to see what your local propane guys can do for you.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

Good point on the bottles!

I always point this out to people with gas grills. If a 20# propane cylinder costs $20 to exchange, and they only fill them about 80% full, you're paying roughly $6 per gallon for propane. If you already have propane at your house, you could run a line from your bulk tank, get your gas for 1/4 the price and never have to worry about running the 20# cylinder empty. If you have natural gas at your house, even better, because it's about 40% cheaper still.

The downside? Don't forget and leave your grill on! A grill will burn through about 1/2 gallon of propane an hour...if you multiply that by say...a week...it could be sort of expensive.

Sorry to highjack the thread. Back to the original question...1/2" should be fine.

Phil

 

[ripsnortMN]

Great info guys! What are all you guys doing for a regulator? Just using the gas grill type of thing?

 

[fatboy99]

My regulator's came with the tank install there is one on the tank by the shut off valve and one at the shop on the supply line. I also have a 250 gallon tank i own the tank so i can price shop with suppliers. Around here if you lease the tank they can and do charge around a dollar a gallon over going rate for the propane!
Brad

 

[ripsnortMN]

My regulator's came with the tank install there is one on the tank by the shut off valve and one at the shop on the supply line. I also have a 250 gallon tank i own the tank so i can price shop with suppliers. Around here if you lease the tank they can and do charge around a dollar a gallon over going rate for the propane!
Brad

Hey thanks for the picture. It helped me get a mental picture for my install.

 

[fatboy99]

I can post up a pic of the outside line if needed where the pipe goes into the attic it jump's up to 3/4" pipe i was going to run 1/2" all the way and the service guy from the place that installed my tank said to run 3/4" as far as i could for voulme. I got my tank and install from Ferrallgas
Brad

 

[Northstar9126]

The high pressure regulator on the tank was supplied no chagre with the tank. The low pressure regulator on the wall cost me $50 which was nearly half of the tank installation charges. The $50 regulator has me kind of bugged with myself as I forgot that I have a brand new one on a shelf that I bought a while ago for something else that I was doing but never used it.

 

[ripsnortMN]

Heres one for you guys. I just went and bought some black pipe for the install. I wanted to go 1/2" out the back of the heater just long enough to clear the back of the heater. And then I was going to go to 3/4" from there on. For the life of me I could not find a female union or adapter to go from a 1/2" male to a 3/4" male. I mean thats what a union is for right? Joining two different diameter pipes?

 

[Northstar9126]

A union is for connecting two pieces of pipe that you want be able to take apart easily later. I have never seen a union that connects different size pipe. A reducer is for joining two different size pipes together.

 

[ripsnortMN]

Okay guys i got the piping figured out. I would love to go with the bulk tank but there is a huge pile of gravel where i would have the bulk tank set so i was thinking about getting away with a 100lb tank just for this year. Also i found a used 100lb tank for $50. I asked the guy if it has the new valve. He said it has the old style valve. He also said that the propane places will still fill them. He claims that "these tanks" have the old style valve. Should I pick it up?

 

[mikeyr]

1/2" is fine, mine was plumbed with 1/2" for many years and worked fine.

Now in my new garage, I have to run 3/4" or 1" because of the distance, its about 100ft. from the gas line into the house to the point where it would go in the detached garage, I was told 1/2" for that distance wont work well, too bad too because there is a water heater with 1/2" line only 50ft. away, oh well.

Now maybe I should look into a propane tank and convert my hotdawg....

 

[Northstar9126]

I think that you can buy a new 100 lb. bottle at Menards for about $90.

 

[ripsnortMN]

I think that you can buy a new 100 lb. bottle at Menards for about $90.

I just checked menards today and they are $125ish dollars.

 

[ripsnortMN]

Well im going to go check out this used 100# tank i found. If it looks okay i may pick it up.