It's a gas

May 28, 2008 4:40 AM

I bought a used gas dryer, and need help connecting it.

Right now, I have the gas valve shut off. However, when I turn it on, while the hose is connected, I smell gas. I'm not sure where the leak would be and am not sure how to diagnose that.

The gas outlet was not used by the previous dryer, which was electric. The dryer is used, the hose is new.

posted by Pants! to home & garden (7 comments total)

I wouldn't mess around here. Call the gas company and query them about it.
posted by keith0718 at 5:20 AM on May 28, 2008

You just have to check all the connections.

(I'm assuming the gas shutoff you are talking about is the one right at the connection for the dryer, and not some kind of main shutoff, right? If there isn't a shutoff right at the appliance, there needs to be one. Call a plumber and have them check the whole system.)

So, they way I see the setup is: gas pipe arrives at the dryer area. There is a shutoff valve. After the shutoff valve, maybe a small length of pipe, and then a brass "end" where you attached your yellow flexible gas line. On the other end of that is the connection at the dryer.

Put some very soapy water (like kids bubbles mix) or non-corrosive leak detector on all the connections past the gas valve. Turn it on. Look for bubbles, spitting and/or listen for hissing.

Yes? Tighten that connection. Make sure you got the right type of connector and that you didn't cross thread it and that you did (or didn't) use thread sealer as necessary.

No? But you still smell gas? I'll bet the leak is inside the dryer. Either there is a malfunctioning valve inside the dryer (doubtful, they are supposed to fail closed), or a broken/loose pipe in there. Inside the appliance, there will be regular piping up to the regulator/valve. It's quite likely that when they uninstalled the dryer, they loosened or broke one of these.
posted by gjc at 5:41 AM on May 28, 2008

How tight do you have the hose ends, and what kind of connection? If it's a flare fitting, it needs to be *just*so*. IF it's interference threads, you need to have pipe dope on 'em.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, get someone who knows to help you. Don't fuckaround with gas.
posted by notsnot at 5:49 AM on May 28, 2008

Connecting gas lines is not a job for a do-it-yourselfer. Call a plumber or the gas company.
posted by caddis at 7:17 AM on May 28, 2008

If it's a small leak, it could be because you didn't use teflon tape around the connections
posted by lockle at 7:54 AM on May 28, 2008

One trick to find leaks is to put some water in a bowl with some dish soap in it. Put your soapy mixture on all the joints and spots where pipes connect to each other. The leak will make the soap bubble where the leak is.
posted by Mach5 at 7:57 AM on May 28, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

As a dedicated do-it-yourselfer, I commend your gumption. However -- your neighbors may not feel the same way. Please call a plumber to finish the job. (If the dryer isn't broken, it will take about 5 minutes to do correctly.) If you don't have the cash, then call the gas company, and tell them you smell gas coming from your dryer. When the Gas Co. truck pulls up, turn on the gas and act flummoxed.
posted by turducken at 8:25 AM on May 28, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]