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A drip leg, or also commonly called a sediment trap, is used on fuel piping to prevent sediment, debris, and moisture from entering a gas appliance or fuel regulator. The drip leg serves as an area within the fuel piping system to protect your appliances and regulators from damage.
What is a drip leg drain?
Easy-to-Monitor Float-Operated Compressed Air Drain Valves Also known as drip legs, these have a float that automatically opens the drain when the bowl begins to fill. Install them at low points in your line after separators, dryers, filters, and aftercoolers.
How does drip leg work?
Drip legs are the key to successful, water hammer free, system start-up. Drip Legs: a) Let condensate escape by gravity from the fast moving steam. Once the system is up to pressure the large drip leg keeps the condensate from being sucked out of the drip leg.
How long does a drip leg need to be?
The basic requirements for sediment traps: Must be made of a tee fitting with a capped nipple, a minimum of 3 inches in length, in the bottom opening of the run of the tee. Provide a 90-degree change of direction of gas flow, to help prevent sediment from flowing over the trap.
Where do you put drip legs?
A drip leg can be installed anywhere at the low point in the piping system, if there is moisture in the gas to allow for the removal of the condensation. The outlet of the meter is one such location. What is this? Sediment traps are usually installed very close to the water heater or furnace valve.
Do you need a drip leg?
Drip legs are required to be installed in a manner that meets or exceeds fuel piping codes and manufacture requirements for appliances and devices. It is a very simple and necessary component of fuel piping installation. The drip leg requirements are the same for both natural gas and propane.
How do you size a drip leg?
in diameter, the Drip Leg should be constructed from the same size pipe as the main. For steam mains larger than 4 in., the Drip Leg should be half of the diameter of the main but never less than 4 in.
Does a gas dryer need a drip leg?
Good question – Because they are not required for gas clothes dryers and stoves. Not required by code. But sediment traps are required by many manufacturer’s instructions. From State Water Heaters.
Do all gas appliances need a drip leg?
According to the 2016 California Plumbing Code (CPC), sediment traps are required for all gas appliances except: illuminating appliances, ranges, clothes dryers, decorative appliances for installation in vented fireplaces, gas fireplaces, and outdoor grills. Those are quite a few exceptions.
How much does it cost to install a drip leg?
The average cost to install a drip leg is $75 to $150, which is a plumber’s minimum charge. For multiple installs, costs range from $33 to $89 per drip leg. Drip legs capture moisture so that it doesn’t enter the control unit. Although small pieces of sediment may get through a drip leg.
Do I need a drip leg on my water heater?
Drip legs and sediment traps are a capped off section of gas line that is designed and installed to catch debris or moisture in the gas line to keep the system clean. Moisture and debris will simply pass by the assembly and into the appliance. Mar 23, 2019.
Where do you put a sediment trap on a gas line?
Location of sediment trap: Sediment trap is required to be installed downstream of the appliance shut off valve and as close to the appliance inlet as possible.
Do you need a drip leg before a regulator?
2) Use a drip leg immediately in front of the regulator. Any dirt or debris that flows through your pipe should fall into the drip leg so it doesn’t damage the regulator.
Can I use flexible gas line for furnace?
Flexible connectors may not be permitted on gas furnaces, water heaters, space heaters, etc. In areas prone to earthquake, flexible connectors are more likely to be used on all appliances since they provide some measure of protection against gas piping leakage or rupture during an earthquake.
How much does it cost to install a sediment trap for a water heater?
Sediment traps cost about $10, but you can do it yourself for less without the kit by shopping for 1/2 inch gas line at Home Depot. If you have a professional install one, it can cost up to $100.
What is a steam drip trap?
Drip traps are located as part of the main steam distribution piping as the system radiates heat, loses energy, and creates condensate within the piping system. Drip traps consist of a short piece of vertical pipe called a drip leg on the bottom of the steam main with a steam trap.
What is the use of steam trap?
A steam trap is a device used to discharge condensates and non-condensable gases with a negligible consumption or loss of live steam. Steam traps are nothing more than automatic valves.
What is a dirt leg?
(A2A) A dirt leg is a sediment trap in a natural gas line. It consists of a T junction with one arm pointing down. The arm that is pointing up contains the connection that continues the flow of gas onward through the line. The lower leg is a dead end.
What is hot water heater expansion tank?
A water heater expansion tank is another small tank that is attached to the water supply pipe of the water heater. The expansion tank is designed to handle the thermal expansion of water as it heats up in the water heater, preventing excessive water pressure.
