Sediment Trap Gas Line Furnace

Most water heaters do not have a sediment trap in them.

Sediment trap gas line furnace.

The photo below shows a water heater in use with no sediment trap. Wrong orientation of a gas line sediment trap at a gas water heater. This drop line is called a riser if it carries gas up to an appliance from a branch line below the appliance. Sediment traps have been required for.

At the appliance connection point there usually is a sediment trap or dirt pocket sometimes called a drip leg that includes a nipple and a cap. A sediment trap which is sometimes called a drip leg although technically different is a capped off section of gas line which is installed in such a way that any debris or moisture in the gas line will be caught in the trap where it can be cleaned out easily. The drip leg sediment trap called by either name is a gas line safety device required by the national fuel gas code ansi z223 1 nfpa 54 and by the irc international residential code the upc uniform plumbing code and the nfpa national fire protection agency along with most if not all manufacturers of large gas appliances including water heaters and furnaces boilers and gas pool. Sediment traps sometimes mistakenly referred to as drip legs are designed to catch sediment in natural gas before it enters into the water heater or furnace gas valve.

Sediment traps are found in the gas supply line between the gas shut off valve and the controls of gas heaters water heaters and pool spa or hot tub heaters. The general home buyer gives me a blank stare when i mention the need for and lack of a sediment trap. Wrong orientation of a gas line sediment trap at a gas water heater. The sediment traps at my furnace and water heater were completely empty.

The sediment trap shall be either a tee fitting with a capped nipple in the bottom opening of the run of the tee or other device approved as an effective sediment trap this means that all gas furnaces water heaters boilers unit heaters and gas packs are required by code to have a sediment trap in the gas line ahead of the equipment.