Capping steel gas pipe buried in concrete

[pauland]

Our Gas guy has detected a leak and using a sniffer, the leak seems to come from a section of buried pipe.

This pipe is made from steel and we could probably get by capping off the pipe at or near a "T" junction ( removing the leaking pipe from the buried network ).

The Gas guy has suggested that it's not possible to cut the pipe and then cap it, but we'll need to unscrew the pipe from the T junction and put a cap in place of the pipe.

As you can imagine, access is going to be very tight - I'm wondering if it's even going to be possible to unscrew the pipe at all.

If the pipe cannot be capped off, we have a major job - rerouting gas pipe to the kitchen and living room.

I may end up digging channels in the kitchen floor to allow new pipe to be laid and it's not a task I'm looking forward to.

Anyone managed to cap a pipe in similar circumstances?

(Before anyone asks, I'm up for the donkey work, I'm just trying to make the Gas guy's job as easy as possible ).

 

[Dotty]

He know's what he's doing. relax.

 

[Gray0689]

Let him do the job he knows best

Lol
What he said ^^^^^

 

[tamz]

Your paying the man so let him do his job.

 

[Killy Bing]

Trust him, he doesn't do his job for the fun of it 🙂

 

[pauland]

I do trust him, it doesn't mean someone has a great idea, or some suggestion that turns a nightmare job into a simpler one.

 

[E4gas]

Our Gas guy has detected a leak and using a sniffer, the leak seems to come from a section of buried pipe.

This pipe is made from steel and we could probably get by capping off the pipe at or near a "T" junction ( removing the leaking pipe from the buried network ).

The Gas guy has suggested that it's not possible to cut the pipe and then cap it, but we'll need to unscrew the pipe from the T junction and put a cap in place of the pipe.

As you can imagine, access is going to be very tight - I'm wondering if it's even going to be possible to unscrew the pipe at all.

If the pipe cannot be capped off, we have a major job - rerouting gas pipe to the kitchen and living room.

I may end up digging channels in the kitchen floor to allow new pipe to be laid and it's not a task I'm looking forward to.

Anyone managed to cap a pipe in similar circumstances?


(Before anyone asks, I'm up for the donkey work, I'm just trying to make the Gas guy's job as easy as possible ).

if he can't get to the T , get him to cut pipe , re thread , then cap

 

[Ermintrude]

How on earth will you thread onto a buried pipe. Probably easier to cut grind and weld a plate on. But that's just stupid if you can get to a tee and thread in a plug.

 

[Chalked]

Don't have a dog and bark yourself!:cool3:

 

[E4gas]

How on earth will you thread onto a buried pipe. Probably easier to cut grind and weld a plate on. But that's just stupid if you can get to a tee and thread in a plug.

Theres a thing called digging ,

 

[tamz]

How on earth will you thread onto a buried pipe. Probably easier to cut grind and weld a plate on. But that's just stupid if you can get to a tee and thread in a plug.

You need to dig enough out to get a power head on but your average Joe plumber won't have one so best to cut it with a recip unscrew the cut and plug

 

[Ermintrude]

That's a big hole in a concrete floor. Pipe 40mm down, the the cutter add on another 125mm so u can get in square. Loads of fun.

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

should be ok if you can access T.

 

[E4gas]

You need to dig enough out to get a power head on but your average Joe plumber won't have one so best to cut it with a recip unscrew the cut and plug

Tool station sell hand ones ,

 

[Linkyplumb]

Tool station sell hand ones ,

Have you ever used them.? They lose their teeth is the first few turns!!

 

[E4gas]

Have you ever used them.? They lose their teeth is the first few turns!!

Ive used it about 8 times . It is starting to play up ,,

 

[Leo21]

Just plug the "t" and have done with it.

 

[PlumberShooter]

Dig enough hole space for hand threaded tool then cap

 

[pauland]

Thanks guys for all the comments.

I managed to dig out enough concrete for the gas guy to be able to cut the steel pipe with a reciprocating saw. He then put a blowtorch onto the screw joint at a T junction and much to my surprise he was able to twist out the pipe.

He then capped off the T joint and tested the system for leaks - there were none. He then put in a new section of brass pipe from the T joint, partially below the concrete. He wrapped that in tape.

So, for a job I thought could be a nightmare, it went quite smoothly.

Generally the pipe looked in reasonable shape, but as it moved from the T junction it became quite corroded. I think it's no surprise since the concrete wasn't as dense in one part of the floor and we've had a washing machine and dishwasher in that spot with various spills and thrills.

Anyway, one month from getting the gas cut off, we're warm again.

Thanks guys.