Another Ceiling Gasline Question
Recently I had the entire top floor electricity redone. As the electrician was running the lines thru the ceiling, he took a ceiling fan off the ceiling and saw a cap. He unscrewed the cap and told me that he encountered a live gas line and capped it back up. They finished the work but…
Recently I had the entire top floor electricity redone. As the electrician was running the lines thru the ceiling, he took a ceiling fan off the ceiling and saw a cap. He unscrewed the cap and told me that he encountered a live gas line and capped it back up. They finished the work but told me i should get the gas turned off thru that line.
We moved in 3 1/2 yrs ago and had no idea about this. Is it possible that there was just old gas in there that came out when he unscrewed the cap? Do i need to call national grid to inspect? if it is a live gas line is it unsafe to keep it the way it is?
donatella: i’ve actually never posted on this before. but thanks for the advice.
you responded to another post titled “September 25, 2009 Old Gas Lines Safe?”. I’m new here, but I guess this is a common problem/concern.
i have my plumber coming next week.
thanks
I remember your post. Everyone said get National Grid to come in and check it out. Obviously you haven’t done that and you haven’t blown up so give it a rest.
Well, it’s been safe enough for the last 100+ years, as evidenced by the house not having exploded. Chances are it’ll be safe for years to come, but I personally would be a little uneasy about having live gas lighting lines, although not uneasy enough to change them TOMORROW, on an emergency basis. I WOULD make it a moderately high priority.
If there are separate gas lines to the kitchen range, gas dryer, furnace/boiler, etc., having the old gas line cut and capped, at one point in the cellar, isn’t a big deal for a plumber. It’s a bit more complicated if the gas appliances are connected to the same gas line as the lights, especially if any appliances are above the ground floor.
In my own house I was lucky to find that the old gas line was obviously cut in the cellar; the newer lines to the furnace and range were easy to spot. It was just about the only improvement the previous owners had made.
National Grid will likely shut off your gas. Get a plumber to come and inspect and disconnect the necessary lines.