Im putting a drop ceiling in basement. 60 year old 1" black iron gas pipe runs across joists. I noticed it wasnt strapped very good so i added a few straps.

When i screwed them to the joist the pipe shifted towards the joist a few inches. I dont think it was prefectly plumb in the first place but now that snugged it up to the joists it looks a bit crooked. It certainly secure now but its not perefctly straight.

My question to you....

This piping hasnt moved in 60 years, could the movement have caused a leak or otherwise weakend my old pipes?

Possibly but not necessarily. Is there a way to isolate the system and put a 15 psi air test on it?

Thats not what i wanted to hear. I cant pressure tezt it. I soaped all joints and no leaks seen. Should i be concerned?.....

Fwiw, it only moved approx 1.5"... like i should have added a shim or two before tighting.



Edited 1 times.

without seeing where the pipe moved and what stress you have caused, its hard to say for sure.
i would tend to think you will be fine but i'm only guessing.
it would take a very large amount of stress to cause a leak.

Thx packy.. i know its a guess without being able to see what i am trying to describe.

Let me ask this... This is approx 40'horizontal running perpindicular to the joists. Now the straps are at 8' intervals. The strapped pipe is butted againt the joist faces. If you remove one strap that portion of pipe will lower from the joist about 1.5". Does that seem like excesive stressing?

Prior to adding the correct amount of straps, it had only 2 supports for 40' of pipe.



Edited 2 times.

i use reznor hooks when running iron gas pipe perpendicular to joists.
you get a good feel as to how much you are stressing the pipe and it allows side to side along with end to end movement.
don't hammer the tops in all the way so can remove one if you need to.
if you can lift the pipe up a little with one hand you are probably OK.

"If you can lift the pipe up a little with one hand you are probably OK."

I used basic galvanized pipe straps that hold the pipe rigid to the joist, you could do chinups on it... should i remove and allow the pipe to drop freely and just add those wire straps like in the photo instead? The pipe then would lift up from the wire strap.

i wouldn't bother doing either. (strapping nor chinups)

that looks like an awful lot of sag for a steel pipe supported like that.

The pipe should be STRAIGHT and SUPPORTED, not necessarily 'strapped' up tight to the joists.

That is why the supports are called: HANGERS

Stretch a 'straight line' next to the pipe and re-support as necessary using HANGERS.

==============================================

"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

I will suggest that gas is very dangerous so you want to be sure there are no leaks. If you soaped the joints and no bubbles appeared, you should be safe. But if you smell gas, then you do have a leak. Get on a ladder if you must with a mirror and good flashlight and check with liquid soap and water all the way around the joint. Some leaks are so tiny the bubbles are tiny too. Just stay safe. All the best. Loren Sr.