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September 25, 2009
Old Gas Lines Safe?
Hello,
I live in the top floor rental of a turn-of-the century brownstone. Recently (after permission from our landlord) I removed the very outdated light fixture in our bedroom, only to hear a slight hissing sound and smell the room start to fill with gas. I immediately put the fixture back in place and called our landlord who didn't think much of it and suggested we have her handyman install the new light fixture if we didn't feel comfortable doing it ourselves.
Sure enough the handyman was just as skeptical as we were. It is unclear whether the gas line is 100% closed off and there is also old, scrambled electrical wiring running adjacent.
With this knowledge, our landlord is still unconcerned. The handyman closed off the fixture which appears to also act as a cap to the gas line. Now we are left wondering whether this is potentially a very serious safety issue. We are about to sign a new lease and want to make sure the building is safe. What is the best way to find out whether the current set-up is dangerous?
Thanks.
Comments
probably she want to collect post-fire insurance money for the building.
Posted by: bobjohn at September 25, 2009 5:54 PM
In many of these old buildings when the gas was capped (on both ends of the pipe), the pipes were not bled of the gas within them.
When they are uncapped all these many years later, the trapped gas escapes.
My suggestion is to open a window and place a fan so as to blow out. Uncap the pipe. If the hiss and smell disapate in a minute or so then there is no problem.
If however the hiss and smell are as strong as ever, cap it up leave the fan running for a while to air the room. Call a plumber to find out where in the basement to cut and cap the line and try again with the fixture installation.
Good luck.
Posted by: SenatorStreet at September 25, 2009 6:06 PM
Just talked to my husband who said the handyman was pretty certain the pipe was NOT cut off at the source. I assume this is not the ideal situation...
Posted by: CGRenter26 at September 25, 2009 6:14 PM
You could try calling National Grid and seeing what they advise. Just FYI, I recently had two electricians and a plumber over to look at our place, and they seemed quite sure (and also unconcerned) that the gas is still running in our pipes. Don't know what to make of that!
But if you do find yourself with a gas leak, open all the windows and doors, leave the building, and call National Grid immediately (the recording will say "stay on the line to report a gas leak"). They will be over within the hour to check it out.
Posted by: mopar at September 25, 2009 8:08 PM
this is not that unusual a situation...do not panic... generally the gas lighting in brownstones was run off of a tee in the basement... it is immediately recognizable, because it is a 3/8 inch line... hire a real plumber to cut and cap it in the basement...end of story
Posted by: eman1234 at September 25, 2009 8:10 PM
If the pipe has not been cut off at the source, is the landlord required by law to have it done?
Posted by: CGRenter26 at September 25, 2009 9:05 PM
That line may be serving your gas stove as well. Your landlord may be willing to leave sleeping dogs lie.
Posted by: IMBY at September 25, 2009 9:36 PM
We had the same situation when we lived in Park Slope. Some of these lines are still active!!! So its best to keep the cap on. I would call the gas company anyway and they can give you better info as to whether or not it can de-activated. That's what we did.
I know that ours couldn't be so we just left it as is and never touched it again.
Posted by: italiana71 at September 26, 2009 8:41 AM
I wouldn't fool around with this. It is probably OK, but you should call National Grid. Call the emergency gas line. They will come right out. You don't know what you have there exactly, but they will check it out and you can be relieved. They can determine for you -- for free -- what needs to be done. They come in 20 minutes and that is their job. You really shouldn't be taking care of these things - your landlord should be doing it. As the other posters point out, little amounts of gas can be trapped in the pipes from the old gas lines -- maybe other posters are more knowledgeable about the required plumbing caps, but if it were me, I would get the utility to take a look at it.
Posted by: donatella at September 27, 2009 11:58 AM
National Grid will shut off your gas if they come out and determine the situation is unsafe. Get a plumber to check out these lines. It's not that big of a job to determine what's hooked to the main line.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 28, 2009 8:05 AM
What DIBS said x10. The gas co. will shut down your meter or worse the building until a licensed plumber corrects the problem and gets them back in to turn it on again. Your landlord is not going to be happy. Spray the line with a little dishwashing liquid and water to see if there are any bubbles forming around cap. No bubbles no leak.
Posted by: IMBY at September 28, 2009 8:33 AM
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