Gas valve change- how hard can it be?

[Tintin]

In my gas locker in addition to the regulator valve there is a valve that joins from the flexible hose to the copper gas pipe (compression joint) work to the stove.

The thumbscrew has been stiff for a few seasons but a few nights ago it snapped off, thankfully open so i can still cook. I can still isolate the gas suply at the regulator and at another valve just inside.

I found a number for a marine gas fitter in Falmouth (where I'm moored) but there is no answer.

So I'm wonderring how hard can replacing this be?

Gas ptfe, washing up liquid to check for leaks, cut back the rubber hose so it is mating on a fresh bit.

Thoughts?

 

[VicS]

In my gas locker in addition to the regulator valve there is a valve that joins from the flexible hose to the copper gas pipe (compression joint) work to the stove.

The thumbscrew has been stiff for a few seasons but a few nights ago it snapped off, thankfully open so i can still cook. I can still isolate the gas suply at the regulator and at another valve just inside.

I found a number for a marine gas fitter in Falmouth (where I'm moored) but there is no answer.

So I'm wonderring how hard can replacing this be?

Gas ptfe, washing up liquid to check for leaks, cut back the rubber hose so it is mating on a fresh bit.

Thoughts?

Easy if you know what you are doing, if not get done by a professional.

Unusual to have another valve after the regulator.


Bottle valve, regulator and valve local to appliance is normal. (I guess you have a Camping gas set up with bottle valve combined with bottle mounted regulator?)

If all is safe and operational you could not panic for now and consider a bubble tester and/or electric valve in that location in due course.


Don't use ptfe tape or any other joining compound on compression fittings.

 

[gravygraham]

Get it done by a professional - one who is on the GasSafe register, and with the relevant and in-date 'boats' endorsement on his/her id card.

Unless of course you're content to a) break the law, b) risk blowing yourself up, c) risk blowing your neighbours up, and d) not have your insurance pay out when they find out you've bodged it yourself. How would you feel if the guy in your neighbouring berth fancied himself as a cowboy gas fitter and killed you and your family?

When the engineer is with you, you could ask him/her to check your appliances and perhaps prevent another Windermere type CO poisoning tradegy.

 

[Tranona]

Get it done by a professional - one who is on the GasSafe register, and with the relevant and in-date 'boats' endorsement on his/her id card.

Unless of course you're content to a) break the law, b) risk blowing yourself up, c) risk blowing your neighbours up, and d) not have your insurance pay out when they find out you've bodged it yourself. How would you feel if the guy in your neighbouring berth fancied himself as a cowboy gas fitter and killed you and your family?

When the engineer is with you, you could ask him/her to check your appliances and perhaps prevent another Windermere type CO poisoning tradegy.

While I agree that it is sensible to use a professional for the job if you are unsure about what to do, there is no law that says you must, neither is there any law which defines what has to be done.

One of the problems with getting a professional to do a minor job such as this is that they are notoriously difficult to actually find and get to the boat. Then the charge will inevitably be high as travelling time will be much greater than the 5 minutes it will take him to do the job.

Removing an unnecessary valve and reconnecting with a compression fitting is not a big job, nor beyond the capability of a reasonably practical person.

 

[gravygraham]

One of the problems with getting a professional to do a minor job such as this is that they are notoriously difficult to actually find and get to the boat. Then the charge will inevitably be high as travelling time will be much greater than the 5 minutes it will take him to do the job.

I understand. For me though it's not a reason to cut corners with peoples lives.

 

[Tintin]

Get it done by a professional - one who is on the GasSafe register, and with the relevant and in-date 'boats' endorsement on his/her id card.

Unless of course you're content to a) break the law, b) risk blowing yourself up, c) risk blowing your neighbours up, and d) not have your insurance pay out when they find out you've bodged it yourself. How would you feel if the guy in your neighbouring berth fancied himself as a cowboy gas fitter and killed you and your family?

When the engineer is with you, you could ask him/her to check your appliances and perhaps prevent another Windermere type CO poisoning tradegy.

I was gonna leave this, but changed my kind.

First, what law is that?

Second, if you read the first post you would see i have tried but failed to find a registered fitter prepared to even phone back

Third, why the assumption that doing it yourself, using the correct tools and techniques, is a bodge? It may be the case for stuff you do but stuff i do is done properly cos mine and my families safety rwlies upon it, hence checking and asking advice on here, and generally getting helpful constructive replies from those in the know.Of course there is the odd exception to that.

 

[vyv_cox]

Any reasonably competent person can make up the joints and test for leakage. CAK http://www.caktanks.co.uk/ sell the valves, fittings and pipe to do it. Of course you need to be careful but I'm sure you will.

 

[gravygraham]

Who can lawfully work on gas carrying pipes and gas appliances? See the pdf web page from the Gassafe website - link below. BTW, the term 'gas appliances' includes pipework. http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/PDF/Who can legally work on a gas appliance.pdf

Now I'm in pedant mood, here's a link to their boat safety page - might be useful and/or interesting to some folk. http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/advice/gas_safety_on_boats.aspx

 

[VicS]

I was gonna leave this, but changed my kind.

First, what law is that?

Second, if you read the first post you would see i have tried but failed to find a registered fitter prepared to even phone back

Third, why the assumption that doing it yourself, using the correct tools and techniques, is a bodge? It may be the case for stuff you do but stuff i do is done properly cos mine and my families safety rwlies upon it, hence checking and asking advice on here, and generally getting helpful constructive replies from those in the know.Of course there is the odd exception to that.

Have you tried the "installer locator" on the gas safe register web site ?

Your mention of ptfe in the same post as compression fitting set the alarm bells ringing so now I am at a machine with a proper keyboard I suggest you read the advice in the link below........ (it was originally on Southampton Calor Centres website so you can take it as the correct advice)

http://www.thomson-caravans.co.uk/advice/diyprojects/gascompressionfitting.htm

 

[VicS]

Who can lawfully work on gas carrying pipes and gas appliances? See the pdf web page from the Gassafe website - link below. BTW, the term 'gas appliances' includes pipework. http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/PDF/Who can legally work on a gas appliance.pdf

Now I'm in pedant mood, here's a link to their boat safety page - might be useful and/or interesting to some folk. http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/advice/gas_safety_on_boats.aspx

There is no law that says that a private individual cannot work on the gas system of their own private boat!

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Definitely do-able DIY..... take the time to fit a bubble leak tester while you are at it.... then you can both improve safety, and confirm that your 'repairs' are sound at the same time.

I've redone my entire gas system in the last few months, and very happy that i've taken the time to make sure that the copper pipe is well supported and clipped, joints are secure and protected from knocks etc etc.... probably beyond the care that a gas fitter would take given that its DIY... which gives me peace of mind

 

[pvb]

Who can lawfully work on gas carrying pipes and gas appliances? See the pdf web page from the Gassafe website - link below. BTW, the term 'gas appliances' includes pipework. http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/PDF/Who can legally work on a gas appliance.pdf

We seem to have a glut of "gas police" at the moment. Unfortunately, unlike most of the real police, awareness of the law is sadly lacking. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 specifically exclude small vessels unless they're either chartered or liveaboard.

 

[neil1967]

I don't believe it is as clear cut as that - the gas safe rules do not apply to privately owned sea-going yachts, although I accept that one should follow their best practice. The rules do apply to inland waterways when the boats are either used as permanent residences or are used for profit.

Neil

 

[Tintin]

Who can lawfully work on gas carrying pipes and gas appliances? See the pdf web page from the Gassafe website - link below. BTW, the term 'gas appliances' includes pipework. http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/PDF/Who can legally work on a gas appliance.pdf

In your previous post you stated it was against the law for a non gas safe registered fitter to work on a gas system. That is not true. Ths url you point to makes it clear that if a boat is used for hire or rwward then its gasbsystems do need to be worked on by a registered fitter.

 

[gravygraham]

There is no law that says that a private individual cannot work on the gas system of their own private boat!

Vic, here's an extract from the pdf webpage link I posted earlier - 'However you should not do anything that involves disturbing the gas carrying components (such as the gas supply pipe)' . . .

There might be no law saying that a 'private individual cannot work on the gas system of their own private boat', but there's also no law saying I'm not allowed to cut off my neighbour's head with a blunt cabbage knife.

Prove your suggestion - call up Gassafe and ask them.

Better still, perhaps Comrade Red should speak with them - maybe they're more eloquent than I, and can explain the relevant law.

 

[maxi77]

Who can lawfully work on gas carrying pipes and gas appliances? See the pdf web page from the Gassafe website - link below. BTW, the term 'gas appliances' includes pipework. http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/PDF/Who can legally work on a gas appliance.pdf

Now I'm in pedant mood, here's a link to their boat safety page - might be useful and/or interesting to some folk. http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/advice/gas_safety_on_boats.aspx

If you bother to look at the bottom of the page you directed us to id does say that Gas Safe advise against DIY rather than claim like you do it is illegal. Gas Safe make their money from their accredited fitters so it is not surprising they suggest you use their people.

 

[pvb]

In your previous post you stated it was against the law for a non gas safe registered fitter to work on a gas system. That is not true. Ths url you point to makes it clear that if a boat is used for hire or rwward then its gasbsystems do need to be worked on by a registered fitter.

Actually, that's not a legal requirement either. The Gas Safe organisation obviously has a vested interest, and so isn't very forthcoming about the law. What the law says is that "No person shall carry out any work in relation to a gas fitting or gas storage vessel unless he is competent to do so." It would be easy to demonstrate that the average skilled DIY boatowner, carrying out work on his own boat, is "competent". Indeed, as Phoenix of Hamble commented, DIY boatowners probably take more care than the average gas fitter. However, if someone is employed to do work on a charter boat or a liveaboard boat, that person has to be suitably qualified, which means Gas Safe registered.

 

[vyv_cox]

Prove your suggestion - call up Gassafe and ask them.

This has been tested several times in the past and reported back to the forums. It is perfectly legal for a private owner to work on the gas system on his boat, and AFAIK on his caravan or motorhome.