How to change a gas tap in an apartment with your own hands

Replacing a gas tap in an apartment is a very responsible and dangerous procedure. In accordance with the current rules, it must be carried out by specialists with the necessary experience, knowledge and equipment. However, this is not always possible, sometimes you have to change the gas tap in your apartment yourself. In order to do this efficiently and safely, you need to know how to choose the right device or repair the old one, and most importantly - the schedule for the work on the gas pipeline.

Varieties of gas taps for an apartment

When planning the replacement of a gas valve, it is necessary to correctly select the equipment that should correspond to the parameters of the gas system in the apartment. A wide range of cranes is on sale, but not all of them are suitable for installation.

By design, they are divided into the following types:

• Cork. Opening and closing is carried out by a conical element with an opening, which is combined with the internal channel of the pipe during rotation of the flywheel.
• Ball. Locking occurs when turning the inner ball with a cutout matching the cross section of the trunk. Manipulation is performed in half a turn.

More reliable and durable ball valves are considered.

Methods of fastening to pipes:

• Threaded. The product is screwed onto the channel by internal thread using seals.
• Flanged. Fragments are connected along the flanges, and the final fixation is carried out by bolts and nuts.
• Welded. Parts are fastened with a welding machine.

The first two options are removable and reusable, and the third is disposable.

According to the degree of gas transmission, the valves are divided into the following categories:

• full bore - 90-99%;
• standard pass - 70-90%;
• partial passage - 30-70%.

In systems of low and standard pressure, products with medium and high passability are installed. For high-pressure lines, the low-traffic option is used.

Valves are designed for such design pressure indicators:

• average - up to 3 kgf / cm²;
• high - from 3 kgf / cm².

Typically, in a household network, the pressure is not much higher than atmospheric. To replace the valve, almost all commercially available models of the appropriate size are suitable.

The most reliable are brass products that are corrosion resistant and have the longest service life. These indicators are slightly worse for cranes made of iron. Plastic valves are the most unreliable, fragile and quick wear.

Selection rules

Before changing the gas valve, you should familiarize yourself with the main criteria that characterize the quality and reliability of products.

• Life time. Given the specifics of replacing a gas valve, it should be carried out as rarely as possible. Based on this, the minimum period is 10 years.
• Manufacturer. Preference should be given to trusted brands and dealers. It is not recommended to purchase products from China. The best choice will be products from Italy, Germany, Poland and France.
• Type of marking. All characters must be clear, with no spaces, curvature or fading. Plus, complete information about the brand, size, pressure, material and standard.
• Quality. The inner element must completely cover the gap, have perfect polishing without mechanical damage. The magnet checks the presence of iron in the product.

When buying, you should ask the seller for a certificate to make sure that the product is not fake.

Reasons for replacing a gas tap

There can be many technical and aesthetic reasons for replacing a gas valve in a kitchen.

The most common are:

• A leak. This is the most dangerous condition that occurs in the system. The gas entering the room can cause poisoning, which is fraught with deterioration of well-being, death of residents of the apartment. The worst consequence is an explosion that can destroy an entire staircase and bring the entire building into disrepair.
• Tight turning, seizing. This phenomenon indicates contamination of the internal parts of the valve. Since the product is non-separable, it must be changed. A faulty faucet can break completely, depriving the owners of the apartment of the opportunity to shut off the gas when necessary.
• Inconsistency with the interior. Old, bent and covered with several layers of paint products do not fit into the style of modern rooms.
• Expiration of the warranty period of operation of the valve. It is not worth risking in such cases, it is better to make a replacement.

In accordance with the rules for using domestic gas networks, stopcocks can only be changed by trained representatives of the public utilities, who are authorized to carry out such activities.

Installation and replacement instructions

The easiest solution is to write and submit an application to the gas office.

After receiving a positive response and setting a repair time, do the following:

1. Buy a gas valve that matches the parameters of the system.
2. Prepare a contract with the management company, passport and technical conditions.
3. Burn gas in the pipe and stove. To do this, the valve is closed and all burners are set on fire.
4. Provide quality ventilation of the kitchen. Cover the ventilation grilles.
5. Check the correctness of the work performed by the master.
6. Check the tightness of the connections and the system.
7. Make sure that the appropriate mark is made in the documentation, certified by signature and seal.
8. After fully ventilating the room, open the ventilation holes.

If the repair is carried out independently, you need to prepare for it.

To work, you will need:

• 2 gas keys or plumbing pliers;
• FUM tape or tow with paint;
• plug if restoration of an existing valve is planned;
• materials for closing ventilation openings;
• graphite grease;
• rags;
• mounting gloves;
• gauze bandage;
• protective glasses.

After that, the following actions are performed:

1. The apartment is de-energized in the shield located at the entrance. A warning sign is posted or a post is posted.
2. Windows open, kitchen doors close. Cracks are covered with wet rags.
3. The valve moves to the closed position. Gas is burned in the pipe and stove. Then the flexible hose is disconnected.
4. A new product is being prepared for installation. Graphite grease is applied to its thread. The FUM tape is taken from the packaging, a strip 3-4 cm long is released.
5. The old valve is unscrewed. This is done with two keys. One holds the pipe, and the other removes the part.
6. The pipe is shut up with a finger, the thread is cleaned with rags from dirt and dust. Then an FUM tape is wound on it.
7. If it is planned to service an existing tap, a plug is screwed onto the pipe. After that, you can slowly service the product.
8. Put the valve in the closed position and screw it to the pipe. It should not be tightened too much, as this may cause the thread to break, and this is fraught with great complications.

Finally, a leak test of the joint is carried out.This is done in a time-tested way - a soap solution. If bubbles appear, the process is repeated until the desired result is achieved.

When replacing a gas valve, a general disconnection from electricity is mandatory, since an accidental spark can cause an explosion. You need to work with the windows open, in goggles and gloves to protect your own health. It is necessary to exclude the ingress of gas into the general ventilation system, neighboring rooms and the staircase.