greenhouse heaters - Page 4 - Orchid Board

ericst11 · #31 02-02-2010, 06:59 PM

its a basement and i think you could just tap right in by the meter . thats what they did for my parents ventless basment heater.

BikerDoc5968 · #32 02-02-2010, 07:53 PM

Sounds good... but you want to use the shortest run possible so if the gas line goes to a location closer to where the G/H will be, it is very easy to take it from that point. So if you have an outside BBQ that is NG or a gas dryer this would also work. Trust me, you can do this yourself, even if you have 2 left hands!!!!

ericst11 · #33 02-03-2010, 10:33 AM

Ok thanks Doc i'm sure i can do it ,i worked constuction for the past 18 years . Till the back deal. I will have to go about 25 feet no matter what i have seen were they use soft copper and tap right outside the gas meter and run it around the house to get in the back so i think the distance will work for the green house . now i need to figure out to dig it down 3 inches or raise it and call city today to see what hoops they wantt me to jump thru. Thanks again doc you have been a big help.

BikerDoc5968 · #34 02-03-2010, 11:11 AM

If you are going to tap in at your meter outside and run the line to the G/H, I will tell you know, unless your building code is out in left field, you will have to use black pipe and it will have to be above ground... somewhat pricey! What you could do is look inside your basement where the gas line enters the home. There should be a "T" with a short "trap". You can take this union apart. Place a short "spacer", then another "T" and replace the trap on the end of the "T". This gives you your access for the gas line to the G/H using black pipe or the yellow-coated flex pipe which you can run to the G/H and then reduce to 1/2" and a shut-off valve. I know this reply is probably overkill.....

Becca · #35 02-03-2010, 11:23 AM

I love this thread! Very useful information!

ericst11 · #36 02-03-2010, 01:56 PM

Doc i just talked to the city and the greenhouse i don't have to pull a permit .But next fall when i put in the heating system the inspector i talked to told me i would have to dig a trench to lay a gas line and have that inspected . But i could do the installation of the heater from the gas line to the heater. I could not connect the gas line myself to the meter someone certified would have to do that. Just another way for them to make money.

BikerDoc5968 · #37 02-03-2010, 02:14 PM

Just a minute.... Can I assume you heat your home with a natural gas furnace????? And is this furnace located in a basement???? And if so, then there should be a gas line that goes from the meter located outside to the furnace inside????? YES???? Now, how far from your home structure will the GH be located? Somewhere in the course of that gas line there must be shut-off valve or other connecting link which would serve as a point of access. Connect at that point and run your line, whether black pipe, flex copper or whatever, along the ceiling of the basement and outside.From this point, you can run buried copper in a PVC conduit as I did. No permits, no inspectors, no leaking gas... just a warm GH! Having said all of this and not knowing your specific situation, I understand some modification will be necessary. In my picture #5 above, that line goes out through the base of the home. The PVC conduit comes through the base, goes down into the ground about 1' and travels buried about 18" under the full run of the GH and then back up as pictured in #6. Now, is all that I did by the "book".... probably not but it is safe, protected and works for me.

ericst11 · #38 02-03-2010, 06:38 PM

Ok i understand doc but i'm dealing with a finished basement and the furnice room is none finished where my orchids grow and yes i can get to my gas line there but to get it out side is another story all ceilings are dry walled and finished and a finished room in between and floor joist go the other direction so that why i have to tap in by the meter.

BikerDoc5968 · #39 02-03-2010, 07:07 PM

Well, that is all just too bad.... darn! Well, maybe with time you can get creative and come up with another plan.... good luck and if you have any other questions, there are lots of people here to help and you can always PM me...

ericst11 · #40 02-03-2010, 07:12 PM

Ok Doc i was was hoping when you told me about the furnice that all i would have to do is drill a hole through the bacement wall and send it along the joist till i made it to the furnice room . then i was shot down. i'll figure it out . I stiil have to see what NG heater i'm going to use. Thank you for all you input Doc.