FUCK

[Kali]

so, we are unique for a ranch. we have, or rather had, natural gas. most remote ranches rely on propane, delivered by truck. we have a 16 inch natural gas pipeline that runs right by the house -well, 350 feet away anyhow. (that will be important to the story in a moment)

so the gas bills have been getting worse and worse and the ONLY two appliances we have run in YEARS are the stove and the water heater. and while we do cook most all meals at home, and shower occasionally, the usage amounts on the bills were starting to be 4 and 5 times what they were for the same months last year. So I got mad and called (I have called before all they offered to do was energy audits and tell us about insulation - bs I didn't want to deal with). Guy shows up like 40 minutes later.

He says the meter is cranking pretty good what are you doing? Nothing. He comes in shuts the water heater off (and of course mentions it isn't at code so he won't be able to turn it back on - no big deal I know how to do it). Then he goes back down to the meter and determines we are leaking 83 CFH. Pretty good leak. Only there is no leak, no odor, no dead spots on the ground. He says it may be fairly deep, and fucking disconnects the meter and issues me a "notice of hazardous conditions" - now we need permits and inspections beyond the repairs. Oh and that 350 feet comes in now. anybody got a clue what residential gas conduit runs? I know what the backhoe is going to cost. CRAP

I wonder if it would just be cheaper to buy a new electric water heater and a used stove? I know we can do the wiring although that will entail close to 100 feet itself. ARRRGGGGG!!!!!!

and it is a freaking holiday weekend. I can't believe they actually sent that guy out.

[Tobin S.]

1. That's some shit luck

I'd estimate the costs both ways and go from there.

[Kali]

4. its the stupid permit and inspection that makes me nervous

there probably isn't a freaking splinter or nail in this house that could pass any kind of inspection!

for the electric we don't need no stinkeeng inspection, but ugh I bet the rates are a lot more...sigh

hope you guys are holding up OK - way more emotional shit luck than what I am whining about

[Tobin S.]

7. We're doing alright

Jen's having a harder time with it than I am, but she'll get better with a little time I think.

It reminded me of my bipolar days. A glorious high and then the bottom falls out into a disastrous and debilitating low. It's a cruel illness and nature has shown us that she can be equally as cruel.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

2. Go hook the meter back up for the weekend, BBQ and get a solar hookup to your water heater.

Been down to the pool shop looking at solar for the pool. Some pretty inexpensive shit and since I only need it for two, maybe three months a year, I plan to run my water heater with it for the remaining 9 months. About $300.00 for the initial setup, then, free.

I am going to get as far off the grid as I can!

[Kali]

5. well yeah but my ancestors spent a lot of effort bringing those things to rural people

and hell - a 16 inch gas tap is freaking AWESOME

[Dystopian]

3. So sorry...

Kali
I agree with Tobin...get estimates. It sounds like getting the gas line will be $$$$...but I don't know.
We have a propane tank for gas stoves...and the hot water is built into the oil furnace.
The propane stove costs so little .....
The electricity bill here runs high...

So sorry this has happened....

Hope you get this resolved soon...best wishes.

peace & love~

[Kali]

6. yeah I need to get the rate estimates for those two appliances so I can compare

I will be OK, just kind of shocked me to have them move so fast when they didn't seem to give a shit before...and of course a friday afternoon on a long weekend

[catnhatnh]

8. Call your local propane distributor.

Your water heater and stove should convert to propane by changing burner jets and maybe an air shutter adjustment. The distributor should be happy to supply and hook up a tank at minimal cost and either has a guy who can do the conversion or can recommend one. Just bought a "scratch and dent" stove that cost just over $100 to convert. The stove needed 6 jets changed and I believe a water heater is only one. This might be your easiest out...

[Kali]

9. we may still have some piping problems (old), and our road in is NOT conducive for hauling gas

[Smickey]

10. Hi Kali

Isn't your gas company responsible for your supply line upstream of the meter? If so its their responsibility right? In our city the supply line even though under our property is the responsibility of the gas co as long as it is upstream of the meter and as such even the leaked gas is their loss and should be recoupable for you. Good luck to you.

[Kali]

11. nah, the meter is right at the tap

the long 350 line is our side of the meter, our responsibility

now if the meter was up here close to the house...that is probably why they did it that way when the original big gas line went in in the early sixties (not sure of exact date, I have a small visual memory of a big propane tank by the garage when I was very young.

welcome to DU

[hunter]

13. A modern hookup would be a thin plastic high pressure line owned by the gas company...

... leading to a pressure reducing valve and meter at the house.

You've probably got 350 feet of 1 1/2" or 2" metal pipe that's corroded or (horrors!) yellow PVC, which was legal in some places many years ago.

When I was a teen we lived in a rural area about 300 feet from a similar gas main... my parents always talked about getting gas, but never did because they could never come up with the money. When they sold the house the new owners had a gas line installed right away.

Personally, I've developed a deep loathing for metal pipe. The only reasonable use of metal pipe is black iron gas pipe dry and inside the house and even that's been replaced some places by yellow flex.

Galvanized pipe sucks, pvc pipe sucks (most especially in western soils that expand and move about when wet), cpvc sucks, and copper sucks. The only stuff that survives rough conditions and corrosive waters is HDPE and PEX, but only so long as its kept in the dark and the installer knows how to make good connections.

Converting to propane or electric will be expensive in the long run.

If this happened to me today (our budget is past tight, we have a kid in college, and unpaid medical bills have destroyed our credit) I'd have to go with an electric water heater, conversion of the stove to propane, and hopeless dreams of solar. No more long showers for anyone!!!

Unless I could wrangle some kind of deal out of the gas company.

[Kali]

14. THANK YOU!

you have given me a little something to go on. Maybe they need to move the dang meter closer to the house!

I am going to see if they will work with us on that. God knows the have gotten some extra $$$ off this account in the past year or so.

[Smickey]

16. You are very welcome

and thanks for the "welcome" Kali. Sounds like you have a wonderful place there good luck with it.

[HopeHoops]

12. I'd say fuck it and switch to propane with a 500gal above-ground tank. Much cheaper.

The water heater and stove may not be able to run on it, but between the tank and two new appliances you'll spend a SHITLOAD less than having the underground gas line fixed. But seriously, you won't know the difference between natural gas and propane. I've used both. The only thing I CAN NOT stand is an electric stove top. They're just wrong.

[Stake]

15. tell you as the old gasfitter

tell you as the old gasfitter
nat.gas and especially propan is very dangerous thing
use better electric heater

[MiddleFingerMom]

17. PM me. I have some gas for you.

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