We have been enjoying an absolute horror show since the third week of August. To make a long story short, in the Spring of 2000 we built a house. There was no natural gas available at the time, so Propane gas appliances were installed (furnace, dryer, hot water heater, stove, gas fireplace). Natural gas has been available for a while and after a fight with our propane vendor, we decided to switch to natural gas.

We've gotten conflicting and erroneous information since then. Up until now, the wife has been the intermediary between our county, the guy we were going to have swap out our appliances, and the gas company so what I report here is second hand, but highly credible. That said, the county requires a "Gas Line Pressure test" on the lines in the house before we can make the switch. I disconnected the propane regulator from the house, turned off the gas at each appliance's connection and filled the line with 12 pounds of air pressure. To pass, the lines need to hold 10 pounds of pressure for 15 minutes. My test failed. In ten minutes or so, the pressure gauge reads only 7 to 8 pounds. A gas guy that was recommended to us said, "That's because the shut-off valves aren't designed to hold pressure. You'll need to disconnect those lines and cap them for the test." That didn't make sense to me. Gas normally comes into the house under pressure (admittedly not 10 psi, but still under pressure) so what use would a cut-off valve be if it failed under pressure?

I've reached out to the heating and a/c company that originally installed this stuff, but have yet to hear back from them. I've no problem attempting to disassemble the pipes and cap them for everything EXCEPT the furnace, but I am at a loss to understand why the shut-off valves were designed so as to fail under pressure.

Clues, anyone?

When I told him what I'd heard about the cut-off switches he laughed and said they do it all the time and crank the pressure up to 30 pounds and it holds it for hours with no issues. He said I obviously had a leak, but they'd find it and repair it.

It's naturally a T & M job. But, hey, it's only money. ;0(

p.s. From what I gather, natural gas is delivered to the house at 0.25 pounds per sq. in. The "test" in our area puts pressure 40 times normal on the system. I also understand that in California, the pressure test is even higher. Which makes sense, given California's proclivity for fires. (I kid, I kid).

As expected, had *nothing* to do with shut-off valves. Two elbows and one three-way connector were leaking. Just got a call from the wife who said that it was all fixed and holding pressure. Tomorrow I'll be staying home to wait for the County Inspector. Then, two days later we *should* be scheduled for gas meter placement and connection. After that, have the furnace re-worked and the new stove, dryer and water heater installed. The delay is going to be the gas company. I'm really hoping this all gets done by the 21st when the kids get home.

Thanks all for the input!