Question about natural gas

skeets

Well-known member

Equipment
BX 2360 /B2601
Oct 2, 2009
14,550
3,298
113
SW Pa
Question about natural gas? I was wondering if anyone knows how much moisture is in the natural gas that comes in to your home. Now around here it was - 30 or so with the wind chill the last few days. I went out to feed the birds, and noticed that the screen on my chimney cap was frozen over on 2 sides. I have never seen anything like this before, and I use my GD's air rifle ( her mother will not allow her to keep it at home so it stays here) to shoot the ice off both sides. So the question is this how much moisture is the gas company permitted to allow in the lines? Has anyone else ever seen this happening?
 

Kennyd4110

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Sep 7, 2013
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427
83
Westminster, MD
www.boltonhooks.com
There is a lot of moisture in NG, that's why there is a drip leg installed at the connection to appliances. I've never seen a chimney/vent freeze like that, but it happening does not surprise me with the could spell we've had.
 

alansz400

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B7500. FEL, Piranha tooth bar, box scraper, post hole digger, 3 pt. bucket
Oct 26, 2013
265
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Loudonville OHIO
I would say its more like condensation from the heat going up the chimney and hitting the super cold outside air. Even with the furnace off you will still have some heat going up the chimney since heat rises.
 

SteveF

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BX25
May 15, 2013
307
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Huntingdon, PA
skeets let's back up to the air rifle, not gettin' that past me. What made you think of that (pretty clever idea). And, less repair needed than using magnum Mossberg. lol
 

RCW

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BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
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Chenango County, NY
The by-products of combustion are carbon dioxide and water, so burning the NG will add moisture to the exhaust.

As efficient as some of these burners are nowadays, exhaust is probably pretty damp.

And, as cold as its been, some odd things happen....

Warmer weather on the horizon!
 

Gso125

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L6060 cab and loader
Sep 16, 2013
81
18
8
USA
Im a master plumber I no longer do to much with it anymore many things have changed in 20 years . Most all your new boilers are what you call condensate boilers and they condensate needing a pump to get rid of it. So the stack temps are way down not keeping the chimney walls hot enough due to high efficiency and low heat on the cold walls makes moisture/water. And a cold steel cap makes collecting moisture easier. Even some older boilers can do this. It's like your cars exhaust on cold days water can come out of it.
 

skeets

Well-known member

Equipment
BX 2360 /B2601
Oct 2, 2009
14,550
3,298
113
SW Pa
Thanks guys that makes me feel a lot better,,, and yeah Steve I thought I would try the .177 first before I took the cap off with a load of 00 buck,,lol
 

ipz2222

Active member

Equipment
L235, bx2670
May 30, 2009
1,927
32
38
chickamauga ga usa
I have a ventless lp heater in the dinning/kitchen room. When it is on, it does produce moisture in the house. Last week when the temps were down to 5* outside, the window in the far bedroom had condensation on it and it was frozen on the inside. Solid sheet of ice on the window.
 

Paulemar

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BX25, 60" MMM, 3 point hitch, 60" front plow, 48" Phoenix rototiller.
Jan 21, 2012
112
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16
Pittsburgh, Pa
This doesn't have anything to do with moisture in natural gas, but our vent for the bathroom froze up during the below zero weather. I guess our taking showers allowed steamy moisture from the hot water going down the drain to freeze and clog up the vent pipe. When we would flush, the toilet would suck air down with the flush water and suck the water out of the sink trap. It made a loud gurgling noise and didn't go away until the weather got up into the higher 20's.
We also have a ventless NG fireplace that will add moisture to the house and condense on the windows if it's on for awhile. Same thing happens in the kitchen if the wife decides to use the gas oven to make dinner or something.