Help identifying these pipes - Are they water or gas?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Help identifying these pipes - Are they water or gas?

timbosan

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#293025 22-Dec-2021 10:29

Hi all,

So I have an old house, and under it are lots of old things, including this pipe which comes from the road (and is buried for part of the way) and has been capped. It's way larger in diameter than any waterpipes I have seen, and there are still old metal water pipes connected elsewhere, e.g. to the outside tap, and they are very similar in size to the plastic stuff used nowadays.

So, is this gas? FYI there is gas in the street. Thanks!!

insane

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#2836789 22-Dec-2021 10:43

Assuming it's only a T that has bene capped, can you turn a tap on a listen for flow within the pipe? The valve on it does look rather similar to the one on my gas line though...

Bung

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#2836793 22-Dec-2021 11:04

I'd assume street gas would pass through a Meter before entering house.

timbosan

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#2836808 22-Dec-2021 11:23

Sorry forgot to show the cap:

But yeah good point about a meter for gas. And it seems to come direct from the street rather than go somewhere for a meter. Unless the capped end went to the meter which was removed? That capped end points to the side of the house.

FYI I tried checking on Vector's website if there is gas, but all I can do it sign up.

timbosan

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#2836809 22-Dec-2021 11:24

insane:

Assuming it's only a T that has bene capped, can you turn a tap on a listen for flow within the pipe? The valve on it does look rather similar to the one on my gas line though...

Yeah, thought about that but I would hate for it to break, find out it is gas, and have a gas leak to deal with over Christmas!

Handsomedan

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#2836825 22-Dec-2021 11:52

Here's a thought - uncap the pipe with a naked flame next to it.

If the flame goes out - it's water.

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insane

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#2836826 22-Dec-2021 11:53

timbosan:

insane:

Assuming it's only a T that has bene capped, can you turn a tap on a listen for flow within the pipe? The valve on it does look rather similar to the one on my gas line though...

Yeah, thought about that but I would hate for it to break, find out it is gas, and have a gas leak to deal with over Christmas!

Sorry I meant turn on a water tap in the house, not the valve! When I have a water tap on in my house I can hear the water flowing through my copper pipes.

Something else to check, check your water meter valve, from there you should be able to see the type and size of the pipe coming into your house (may need to dig/move a handful of mud to see it if the valve is half buried.

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Paul1977

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#2837394 23-Dec-2021 14:19

Looking at the second picture... could it be an old galv steel water main?

Gurezaemon

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#2837421 23-Dec-2021 15:52

Maybe you could get someone else to rapidly turn off and on a tap in the house, and with your hand against the pipe, feel for the pipe shuddering - water hammer?

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raytaylor

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#2837814 24-Dec-2021 13:59

Gurezaemon:

Maybe you could get someone else to rapidly turn off and on a tap in the house, and with your hand against the pipe, feel for the pipe shuddering - water hammer?

This is how professional utility locators do it with a special microphone and a device that turns the water on and off.

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Bung

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#2837880 24-Dec-2021 14:26

As suggested I'd dig on the customer side of the toby or water meter to see if the water pipe has been replaced. If it is still galv the chances are that it will be blocked with rust or about to leak. Be careful with old water pipes, they could still be connected as the electrical earth.