Can I connect two natural gas hoses together?

HOW TO EXTEND YOUR GAS HOSE

Have you been looking to add or extend your barbecue hose by 5 or even 10 feet, but you're not quite sure how?

Maybe you're looking to shift your barbecue across your deck, or just want to add a few extra feet so you can move it closer come winter time? (We wouldn't blame you.) 

Regardless of the reasoning, we're here to help you successfully and, most importantly, safely, install a hose extension to your barbecue.

Please Note: We do not recommend having a hose above 20 feet in length as it might cause a decrease in pressure. Causing your unit to under fire (and nobody wants that!)

Now before we get started, you should shut off your gas at the source before beginning this process.

Firstly, before you look to add an extension hose onto your barbecue, you must first take off the original hose. 

Why, do you ask? This is because the hose on your barbecue is what needs to plug into your gas line, so the extension is placed between the unit and the original hose.  This is done using appropriately sized wrenches, or adjustable wrenches.

Secondly, we need to prepare the extension hose so that it properly adapts to the existing unit and hose. 

This is done by applying pipe sealant to the male end of the hose and attaching a flared brass connector fitting. The size of this fitting will depend on if your hose is 3/8" or 1/2" in diameter.

Side Note: Do NOT use Plumbers tape / Teflon tape in place of pipe sealant.  This tape degrades over time which can lead to gas vapors escaping from the fitting (Safety First!)

Now that we have our extension hose prepped, we can attach it to the barbecue where the original hose was removed.

Depending on which model you are working with, this could be directly on the manifold, or after a flex-hose - as seen with this unit.

This is done using the same wrenches you used to remove the original hose.

Be sure the hose is securely wench tightened!  We will perform a soap test later on to ensure there are no potential leaks.

With the extension hose now properly installed onto the barbecue, we can look to finish the process by attaching the original hose onto the extension!

Place the female end of the original hose onto the flared brass connector fitting.  Once again, tighten fully to ensure there are no leaks.

Now that you have successfully installed an hose extension on to your barbecue, there's only a few more steps to go! 

Attach your barbecue to your gas line and open the shutoff to allow gas into the hose. 

Next is perhaps the most important step. SOAP TEST! Lather up every connection that was worked on with leak detector. 

This includes the brass connector fitting and where you attached the hose onto the barbecue.

Watch carefully in all the places you have applied the soap to see if any bubbles arise. If there is no bubble movement, then you have successfully extended your barbecue line!

However, if there are bubbles, we recommend turning off the gas immediately, loosening whatever connection that may be leaking and then re-attaching it to see if there was any cross threading or improper installation.

Once the fitting is tight, reapply the leak detector and perform another leak test to check and see if the leak has been solved. 

Congratulations, you have successfully extended your barbecue hose! Now you (or your partner) can get back to grilling your favourite foods with your barbecue properly placed where you want it. How long til' the meatloaf?

More questions about extending your gas hose? Find your local Barbecues Galore store and get in touch with us today!

If you're like us and made the best you could out of the pandemic lockdowns by getting around to doing some backyard renovations, you may have wanted to place your barbecue, fire table, or patio heater in a new spot. That being said, the current length of the gas hose on your unit may limit your creative control - and you don't like that. So you may be wondering, "Should I extend or replace my natural gas hose?"

There are pros and cons to both an extension and replacement, which we've put in easy-to-read charts below:

Pros and cons of EXTENDING your natural gas hose

Pros:

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• Your gas line can reach lengths further than 20 ft. 
• It's easier to extend your hose than to replace one connected to your unit

Cons:

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 l

 l

 l

• With a longer hose, there will be less gas pressure at the end, which will effect the performance of your barbecue or other gas units
• To extend your hose, you will need to purchase extra fittings to connect them your new hose to your current one
• Having more components in the gas line increases the chance of gas leakage due to human error in assembly or maintenance of the line

Pros and cons of REPLACING your natural gas hose

Pros:

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• If done properly, replacing your gas hose is much safer than extending it with another hose
• Your brand new hose will be more visually appealing than your current older one
• Replacing your hose can be less costly, as you won't need to purchase the necessary fittings to attach two gas hoses

Cons:

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• Replacing your gas hose has potential to be more costly if you are unable to do it yourself, as the process for an extension is easier
• Changing the hose on your barbecue, fire table, or patio heater may void your warranty, especially if the job isn't done by a certified professional. See your units manual for more information.

Our recommendation?

First and foremost, we always recommend the SAFEST option available, which is to REPLACE your hose in this case. However, we understand everyone's options differ depending on their situation.

Here are some other recommendations that are dependent on different factors:

• If your warranty will be void by replacing your gas hose,

  EXTEND your hose as long as you are able to ensure the safe assembly and maintenance of your line

• If you need your unit more than 20 feet away from your natural gas outlet

  , EXTEND your gas hose. It's your only option besides extending the actual piping from your natural gas meter, which is much more costly than any gas hose.

• If your units warranty has expired

  , REPLACE

   your gas hose because it'll not only be safer, but it will perform better too (which is extra beneficial as your unit is likely no longer brand new).

• If you don't have the knowledge or time to ensure your gas line is uncompromised

  , REPLACE your gas hose because there are less areas of potential leaks in your line

• If your intended gas line is 20 feet or shorter from your hard pipeline gas outlet

  , REPLACE your gas hose because having excess gas hose laying around can be both ugly and dangerous, which will make things even uglier. Hoses are a tripping hazard and having excess hose coiled up in the middle of your yard with children, pets, or even adults running around is a no-go in the name of safety... especially around hot barbecues and fire tables.

Whether you choose to extend or replace, a couple items are NECESSARY:

• Hercules Megatape Pipe SealantSlic-Tite Pipe Sealant 

  to ensure no gas leaks through your connections.

• Leak Detector

   to double check there are no leaks in your gas line, especially around the connections.

Still uncertain about what to do? Well one thing is for sure: Don't settle for what your backyard has to look like with thoughts of what could have been. Simply call us and we can help you out with achieving your dream backyard - just click here to see our store info.