Author Topic: Questions on running a gas and water line to a new garage (Read 8812 times)

wazzab · « **on:** July 26, 2011, 09:34:07 PM »

Hi - about to build a garage/home office at the rear of our section. The garage is about 8 meters from my house and the entire run will be around 20 meters. I am wanting to save costs and do some of the setup prior to using a gas fitter and plumber to terminate everything

Water - am I correct to assume I can run a branded blue MDPE pipe of 20 or 25mm from under my house (leave enough pipe under the house for the plumber to connect ot the main line), along a trench - say 400mm to 600mm deep. Does the pipe dimension matter?

Gas - basically run a similar gas rated pipe in the same trench as water out to the rear of the property. For gas, does dimension of pipe matter and are there any preffered brands of pipe - I am going to feed a Rinnai VT16 external hot water system mounted on the back of the garage.

Can both pipes be in the same trench and do they need to be sleeved or anything?

Then leave them both sticking up out of the earth with tape over each end and then let the professionals do there job and connect up.

Thanks for any assistance.

Linkback: https://www.plumbers.nz/ask-plumbers-public/2/questions-on-running-a-gas-and-water-line-to-a-new-garage/786/

woody · « **Reply #1 on:** July 26, 2011, 10:58:37 PM »

Hi wazzab, pipe sizes depend on how many fixtures you are feeding, among other things.
The plumber/gasfitter you use will happily tell you the type of pipes and sizes to use for your particular job, and whether or not they will sign the job off without being there during installation.

re 'Can both pipes be in the same trench...' - not only can they be in the same trench, by using lengths of 15mm Buteline duct taped together the gas and water can actually share the same pipe! (gas floats to the top while water stays at the bottom). Booyah

Thunderhead · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2011, 05:14:47 PM »

dig your trench at least 600 with 100mm clearance on each side of the pipes to be run...throw in the blue pipe for the water is ok but you will have to get a gasfitter to do the gas pipe...as there are several types of pipe out there the gasfitter you call will use his style of pipe and also he needs to do calculations on length of run and fittings served to put in the correct size of pipe, and also there needs to be a yellow gas warning tape run above the gas line so nobody in the future digs into it!!!...dig your trench put a 100mm base of sand for the pipes to sit on and grab a few more bags to cover the pipe work 100mm in sand and call a gas fitter...as well on the plumbing side of things you need to contact a drainlayer to run the sewer pipe to the garrage..and poss some stormwater lines...

20mm mdpe sounds fine to service in your garrage at a guess toilet/vanity/shower/sink and hose tap.

Best thing is to leave it to the professionals.

wazzab · « **Reply #3 on:** July 28, 2011, 04:17:43 PM »

Thanks for your replys. Gas does look a bit involved. May be easier to use an LPG Rinnai instead of running all the pipework for the NG Rinnai. Thanks again

Thunderhead · « **Reply #4 on:** July 28, 2011, 05:40:31 PM »

if your already paying line rental for gas for the house the logical thing is to run a line out...because if you install a lpg bottle out at the shead then you also have to pay rental on the bottles?...little 9kg bottles will do the job as long as you dont mind swapping them more often and you dont mind the gas cutting out when in the shower....but its your shed and your choice to make...gas is not too involved as long as you let a professional do the job and if the trench is already dug then the charge to simply put in a gas line into the trench and connect to the house shouldnt bust your pocket as you already have to get a gas fitter to do whatever you have in your shed...my advice would be to get 3 quotes from 3 diffrent gasfitters tell them you want to do as much work as you can do to make there job faster and to reduce the quote and then make a choice on what your willing to pay and the end result you want.
get a fitter in to quote a bottle hook up or a line from the house hook up...

dont put yourself into a corrner talk to some profesionals first to see what your options are and what might be best for your situation.

good luck.

Jaxcat · « **Reply #5 on:** July 28, 2011, 08:55:51 PM »

I agree with Thunderhead. Gas isn't too much trouble, it's simply that it is better to let the professionals deal with it. If you have NG to the house then it makes sense to run out a line to the shed, otherwise you are paying a daily line charge for your NG and then you could end up also paying yearly rental on LPG bottles. As far as hot water goes it usually works out cheaper running a continuous flow unit on NG. Visit www.rinnai.co.nz or also you can visit both the NG providers www.gashub.co.nz; www.ongas.co.nz - and do some comparisons. Gasfitters will be happy to quote for the work, but you must understand if you put pipework in the ground and cover it up and then expect them to certify as part of their job - you may run into trouble. Gasfitters take a lot of responsibility certifying work and it is right and fair that they can see what has been done. As Thunderhead said if you explain you have a tight budget they will try to work in with you - but you also need to be realistic about costs too. Costs will vary - but around $3000 to $3600 seems average and includes supply of unit, gas, plumbing and electrical installed, depending on lengths of piperun, whether you want a controller installed, and what size continuous flow unit you are looking at. Auckland may be dearer, Invercargill cheaper, but I think those figures are pretty much in the vicinity.

wazzab · « **Reply #6 on:** August 01, 2011, 10:50:48 AM »

Thanks again for your replies. You may have now twisted my arm back to NG again. You are correct, as I am paying for the daily charge alreay to run my house hot water and gas fire, so I may as well utilise it.

I have the drain layer starting tomorrow, so may get him to run the trench for me while he is there. Roll of gas pipe does seem to excessive, so the quotes of $250-$500 per each end for connection plus the certificate doesn't seem too excessive. Plus as you say I don't have to worry about bottles gping forward.

I will swallow my kiwi DIY pride, and call in the experts I think :-)

Jaxcat · « **Reply #7 on:** August 01, 2011, 03:33:42 PM »

Good decision - and just make sure you get a gas certificate at the end of it all!! Best of luck with the renovations.

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Author Topic: Questions on running a gas and water line to a new garage (Read 8812 times)

wazzab

Questions on running a gas and water line to a new garage

woody

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Thunderhead

Re: Questions on running a gas and water line to a new garage

wazzab

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Thunderhead

Re: Questions on running a gas and water line to a new garage

Jaxcat

Re: Questions on running a gas and water line to a new garage

wazzab

Re: Questions on running a gas and water line to a new garage

Jaxcat

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