Source
r/fixit•
Solidaridog

Trouble Opening Line to Propane Woodstove

open

Hello!

I moved into a house over the summer with a propane woodstove. It’s starting to get really cold over here so I figured I’d try to turn it on. However, the main propane line has a cap on it that’s been next to impossible to unscrew. I’ve went at it with vice grips several times and am worried about bending or breaking it. Upon closer inspection of the line that connects to it, it looks like it may have been lock-tite’d at some point. I’m hoping to fix this myself rather than calling up my geriatric landlord (all the fixes he’s done have been pretty janky).

I’m hoping it’s an operator error on my part, any tips and tricks would be super welcome. Thanks team!

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Posted Nov 4, 2022, 1:37 AM UTC

14
jitoman•

Seems like they disconnected it on purpose. For whatever reason, safety, cost, etc. I don't think there is locktite on it. It's meant to be hard to remove. A water leak ruins possessions, a gas leak kills people.

Usually these require 2 pipe wrenches,(channel locks in a pinch)

I'd ask the landlord about it. You don't want to connect gas to a broken fixture. If you break it you buy it.

Hope you can keep warm. Consider a plug in radiator heater

4
[deleted]•

Usually you need a plumber for that. Could be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. Impossible to remove my hand. You need the correct tool.

2
AbsolutelyPink•

That's a cap. You can get gas assist fireplaces that have a gas line and distributor under where wood goes, but I have never hear of a propane wood stove. There is no distributor and nothing would work with just a bare gas line. Leave cap on!

2
[deleted]•

You need pipe wrenches. You’ll never do it with vice grips. Interesting fun fact. The natural gas line that comes into your house is usually regulated to less than a 1psi. So you can cap the end with your thumb and stop the flow. 😇

1