It's not enough having an engine to move the wheels of a car. That engine requires petroleum fuel or electricity before it can power the drive shaft. And of equal importance is providing a way to get that fuel to the engine. This is accomplished through the means of a tank or battery to house the fuel, and hoses and wires to deliver the goods. It's the same principle for a house. To bring heat and power into a home you need to be connected to the utility grid. But that utility connection terminates at a meter attached to the house. From there, you've got to run pipes and wires to get the power to the necessary appliances and devices.
In the last installment of the “reborn fireplace”, we prepared the old firebox with a new masonry opening. In this second part, we bring the natural gas and electrical wiring into the new space. This is one of the most critical steps in any retrofit. It's not only the importance of getting the right utilities into the designated space, but locating them properly so all the other finishes look correct and fit as planned.
For general information on natural gas, visit The American Gas Association. The King County website provides some basic information on gas installation requirements, and for proper pipe sizing visit The Engineering Toolbox.
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