alternative to copper gas pipe stolen

[jjd2012]

Does anyone have a suggestion for replacing stolen copper pipe and a regulator from our roof in Tijuana that connected to a 300 liter LP tank and from the tank to service pipes to the interior of our home? I was hoping maybe something plastic, or trac pipe. Or doing the copper again, but securing it better. The roof to our condo is accessible for 10 units. The only other solution I can think of is to change to black steel pipe or more securely bolting down the copper tubing so it can't be taken apart too easily. Help! Cold showers and no stove is getting old fast! I've also considered keeping a ferocious dog up there, or gating in the perimeter of our alotted roof space, electrical wire fence....anything that'll help secure the piping!

[conorkilleen]

there are many alternatives to copper, but thats up to you. PVC and others that you mentioned. Can you encase the pipes in some sort of structure (small shed-like thing).

[johnmex]

LPG is pretty low pressure. I would think PVC to be fine. Leave your inside pipes copper though. Can't be too safe with LPG, unlike natural gas, it is heavier than air and will accumulate indoors.

For the regulator, mount it inside a box, bolted to the wall. Or even better, Concrete with wire mesh.

[Ken Wood]

I suggest you get an opinion from someone who understands the limitations of the different kinds of plastic pipe. I do know that high density polyethylene, HDP, is recommended over PVC for usage in gas service, though I'm not aware of all the reasons. It's too easy to do a job like this right (and too easy to do it wrong) and a gas leak could be the result of a poor decision.

[jasavak]

The same thing happened to my wife's family house . They replaced it with galvanized steel pipe . Don't try copper again , because they will steal it no matter how hard you try to secure it .

[jjd2012]

ok, all this sounds like how've I've been thinking about resolving it. At this point, I'm thinking about using galvanized pipe. I'm assuming the metal content isn't of much value to steal, or is it just too difficult to remove? I can provide a link to a series of photos if anybody wants them. I'm not allowed to post this yet.

The copper pipe is still going into the house from the roof and the replacement pipe needs to adapt to these joins. I'll have to figure out a way to secure the new regulator to the tank's shut off valve. I'm not sure if this is LPG or propane, natural gas. I company called Zine I believe delivers the gas on a big truck and hoses it into my tank from there.

My main concern is safety. I guess the copper pipe, and I suppose galvanized or black steel pipe is extremely hazardous in a lightning storm, huh! Perhaps I'll consider encasing it all in larger plastic pipe. Not sure how to handle the regulator. This can be off a ways from the tank I suppose and I'll construct some sort of wire-mesh, cement encased space for this hot little item. Previously I've also had my water meter stolen and it's behind a locked access gate now.

[makaloco]

Originally Posted by Ken Wood

I suggest you get an opinion from someone who understands the limitations of the different kinds of plastic pipe. I do know that high density polyethylene, HDP, is recommended over PVC for usage in gas service, though I'm not aware of all the reasons. It's too easy to do a job like this right (and too easy to do it wrong) and a gas leak could be the result of a poor decision.

As I understand it, liquid propane requires a certain kind of pipe. A few years ago, I had to have a section added to my installation and had some leftover copper plumbing pipe in perfectly good condition. The plumber said he couldn't use it because the gas line had to be a different … thickness? diameter? composition? I don't recall the reason, but he came back with a length of pipe that looked almost identical to the plumbing pipe but apparently wasn't. Best to check on that.

[sparks]

All my copper is tucked in the corner between the roof and sidewall ... then covered with cement

[FHBOY]

I don't know about youse guyz but when it comes to things like explosives I would rather call a professional than rely on us here, unless any of us are plumbing/heating specialists.

There must be more than one plumbing/heating contractor in Mexico and I would trust the proposals from a few of them on the composition of pipe.

Handling gas is way too dangerous to be left to amateurs, mistakes can cost not only your life and home, but your neighbor's life and home also. In this case pay the money...shave the risk.

[jjd2012]

I agree with you FHBOY. The original install was professionally done. So will the second version. I'm beginning to think this whole deal with the theft of the existing copper has been a stroke of luck as now I can truly eradicate any safety concerns as well as having any potential thieves scratching their heads. I am curious about Sparks' use of copper tucked into the corner covered with cement. I have the same rooftop build he mentions and except for the connection to the roof's tank, the service point in the middle of the roof and at the rear over the side wall, this could work. Would the pipe need to be encased in plastic first? What about earthquakes that could tip the tank and break the pipe encasement causing an explosion? My goal is to get ideas here, and present them to a professional installer in Mexico. However the last professional installation got stolen, hence the need to seek a strategic future implementation of this piping. Has anyone heard of track pipe that is covered with a plastic covering? I'm considering using this also but I'm not sure how it will fly with the bomberos in Mexico. Can anyone inform me what kind of gas I'm getting delivered to my tank in Tijuana?