Natural gas appliance connectors are corrugated metal tubes that transport natural gas from your house
piping to your appliances such as stoves, dryers, and sometimes, water heaters.
Today’s connectors are made from stainless steel, coated or uncoated. Most older connectors, however,
were made from coated or uncoated brass and are susceptible to cracking, breaking and deteriorating
due to moving, bending, and corroding. Over time, the older, coated or uncoated brass models may come
apart and cause serious safety issues.
These older connectors have a serious flaw in how they were made. The tubing was not properly affixed
to the end pieces, resulting in some end pieces separating from the tubing and causing natural gas
leaks which can result in explosions or fires. The connectors have not been made in more than 30 years,
but some may still be in use.
For your safety, we recommend that you contact a qualified HVAC or plumbing professional immediately
to inspect and replace any coated or uncoated brass connectors. Do not attempt to move
or inspect natural gas appliances on your own. Moving an appliance even slightly
could result in the connector failing and causing a dangerous situation.
Connector lifespan
Even if you know your appliance connectors are not made from coated or uncoated brass,
you should replace them every 10 years. Connectors can become weak from too much moving,
bending or corrosion. We recommend you contact a qualified HVAC or plumbing professional
to replace your appliance connectors.
Stainless steel connector without plastic coating
Plastic-coated stainless steel connectors
Corroded brass connector
Natural gas leak?
If you smell natural gas – due to a connector failing or for any other reason – stay safe and:
- Leave your home immediately.
- Away from your home, call us at 800-889-4970.
- Don’t light matches or create a flame.
- Don’t turn electrical switches on or off.
