Have you ever wondered how gas reaches your home?In most cases, natural gas is transferred to your home with the help of plastic or metal pipelines. Underground trenches are dug to lay the numerous lines that carry the gas to your home.On your property, the pipes are attached to appliances like your stove, water heater, or even to an overall heater to keep you warm. Most of us don’t care about these things as the house already comes with a preinstalled gas line. Although, when there is a jam in the pipes, or if there’s a need to install new pipes, we need to make a point of getting to the surface of these pipes. Well, all we can say is that the underground can be a mysterious space right from the time when digging starts as a process to extract the natural gas from down underneath the soil. So, if you want to know and learn more about the depth of an underground gas line, then keep reading this article!If you like reading this article, check out how are peanuts grown? Or how are pistachios grown? Here on Kidadl!What is the minimum depth of gas lines?When you need to install a gas line for a house or any other property, the first thing that needs to be and should be done is digging a trench. The minimal depth is said to be around 12 in (30.4 cm), but it depends on the code laid down by a particular state or county. You need to follow the regulations before laying down the lines.The best way to find out the minimum depth of buried gas lines is to call up any of the gas companies that operate near your locations. If the lines are going to pass through your backyard, then you may get away with digging to the minimal depth of 12 in (30.4 cm). However, when laying down the line under a ground that will be driven over by cars, it’s essential to dig a little deeper, even a few feet down. At certain places, the maximum depth can be around 47 in (119 cm).Another thing that you should understand while laying down such lines is the depth of the electrical lines. If the electrical lines are yet to be put down, it’s better to dig deeper into the ground while laying down the gas lines. This will allow the electrical lines and cable to be put over the area later on.What is the depth of the main gas lines?When it comes to main gas lines, typically, the minimum is said to be around 24 in (60 cm), but it might be different based on the area or state in which you are working.In some places, the required depth of gas lines in the case of main lines can be 24 in (60 cm) in case of footpaths, 30 in (76 cm) for the street or verge, and 43 in (109 cm) if you are working in agricultural areas. If you’re working with a company, they will provide you with guidelines to do the work properly, and some may even assist you with the exact measurements. In the case of rocky areas, it’s typically advised to dig a little deeper. When there are multiple utility lines in the same underground trench, it’s advised to keep the other utility lines at a distance of about 10 in (25 cm).What is the depth of service gas lines?The service gas line is a line that connects the property, like your house, to the mainline. For these utility lines, the trenches are dug in lesser depths compared to the main lines. Usually, it’s said to dig up to 12 in (30.4 cm), but most gas service companies will suggest you dig to 14 in (35.5 cm).When it comes to a street, verge, fence, or footpath, you can dig to a depth of about 18-29 in (45-73 cm), depending on the area and its surface. That’s the usual depth of residential gas lines. And, once the lines have been placed into the ground, you will need to cover it up with fine materials that have been taken out while digging. Before you finish up filling up the trench, a warning tape needs to be laid to point out the gas line or any other utility lines that have been placed in the area. This helps people when there’s a process of re-digging the area for some other services.Why are gas lines buried?By now, you must be thinking about why these lines are placed underground. Well, the important thing that you should know is that many utility lines are placed underground. Be it electric utility lines, cable lines, or a water line; it needs to be underground mostly to be out of your way.If utility lines were placed over the ground, then we would seldom have had an area to walk. Unknowingly, we cross several utility lines every day when we walk over the road. You may have seen that when a company is doing some roadwork, the area is properly regulated to make sure that no utility lines are harmed during digging.Another reason for burying these lines underground is to give a buffer area in case there’s a leak. However, when someone accidentally hits a gas line or any utility line for that matter, it’s crucial to call an emergency service company or the local utility helpline to notify them about the problem. Covering a leaking gas pipe without notifying the authorities may lead to terrible situations.How do you know whether you have hit a gas line?It’s a common practice to dig over a gas line for installing other utility lines when you do any other project, so that’s not a problem. At times, however, you may accidentally hit the gas line with your shovel. The most common way is to find the pipe that has been hit, is by locating a hissing sound, which is often followed by a rotten-egg smell.Don’t dig anymore and contact an emergency service as soon as possible. A good way to avoid this problem is to contact your local gas service to ask them about how deep the gas line is in your yard or any other part of the location. Make sure to vacate everyone from the location, and don’t let any flammable products come near the leaking pipe.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting and free family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for how deep gas lines are buried? Then why not take a look at how deep are electric lines buried, or how are bricks made?
Have you ever wondered how gas reaches your home?
