What is a drip leg? And what is the difference between a proper and improper one?
A drip leg, or also commonly called a sediment trap, is used on fuel piping to prevent sediment, debris, and moisture from entering a gas appliance or fuel regulator. They’re required to be installed in a manner that meets or exceeds fuel piping codes and manufacture requirements for appliances and devices.
The drip leg serves as an area within the fuel piping system to protect your appliances and regulators from damage. It is a very simple and necessary component of fuel piping installation. Requirements are the same for both natural gas and propane.
There is a right and wrong way to install one.
The cover photo for this article shows an INCORRECT installation!
We often find them installed incorrectly or missing altogether.
The correct way is shown here:
A correct drip leg, or sediment trap, installed
The drip leg should always be installed vertically, so that as the fuel passes through the tee above the drip leg and there is a change of direction for the fuel to flow through. When it’s installed horizontally there is the chance that sediment and debris can be pushed across the tee by the fuel pressure behind it and never make it into the sediment trap itself.
By pushing the fuel vertically downward into the tee the heavier sediment will flow in and will not change direction with the fuel to exit the tee horizontally.
NCWaterHeaters.com serves residential and commercial customers in the Raleigh, NC area to handle all of your plumbing and fuel piping needs. From a simple service call to major project, we have you covered! Reach us today at (919) 868-3585 or through the contact form on our website.