Should You Extend or Replace a Natural Gas Hose?

August 22, 2022

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?"

Brander Black Natural Gas Patio Heater at Barbecues Galore

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:

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:

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:

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:

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 Sealant or Slic-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.

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