Why backyard lines are their own project
Outdoor kitchens, built-in grills, fire pits and fire tables are popular on Villa Park's larger lots, and they usually sit well away from the gas meter. That distance is what makes the gas line a real project: it typically means trenching across lawn, planters or hardscape and choosing pipe that is approved for burial.
Converting a propane grill to natural gas or adding a fire feature also adds load to the house system. If the line is not sized for everything that can run at once, the fire pit may sputter whenever the pool heater or furnace is on.
A typical project order
- Planning
- List every outdoor gas appliance, including future ones, and decide where the island or fire feature will sit.
- Sizing
- The plumber calculates total house load and the length of the new run to choose pipe size.
- Permit
- The plumber or contractor applies for any required permit; check with the City of Villa Park.
- Locate utilities
- 811 is called so existing buried utilities are marked before trenching.
- Trench and pipe
- Pipe approved for burial is laid with a tracer wire, with risers where it comes above ground.
- Test and inspect
- The line is pressure tested with the trench open for inspection where required.
- Connect and light
- Appliances are connected through accessible shutoff valves and lit for the first time.
Details to settle with the plumber
- Exact route from the meter or trunk to the outdoor appliances
- Pipe material for the buried section and for above-ground risers
- Burial depth and protection the inspector expects
- Tracer wire so the line can be located later
- A dedicated, reachable shutoff valve at the outdoor kitchen or fire feature
- Whether the grill or fire pit needs a natural gas conversion kit or orifices
- Who restores hardscape, lawn or planters after the trench
Common choices
- IfOnly a grill now, but a fire pit or heater may come laterThenSize the line for the future load and cap a tee for the second appliance.
- IfThe route crosses concrete or paversThenAsk about boring under, routing around, or cutting and patching, and how each affects cost.
- IfThe existing trunk is already near capacityThenConsider a dedicated line from the meter rather than tapping a branch.
- IfThe grill was built for propaneThenConfirm it can be converted to natural gas per the manufacturer before running the line.
What drives the cost
- Distance from the meter and number of outdoor appliances
- Trenching through soil versus hardscape
- Pipe size needed for the total load
- Risers, valves and appliance connections
- Permit, inspection and pressure testing
- Landscape and hardscape restoration
Questions to ask
- Will the new line affect gas to my house appliances?
- What material and protection will you use underground?
- Is restoring the trench area included?
- Will the inspector need to see the open trench?
Common questions
Can I convert my propane grill to natural gas?
Some grills can be converted with a manufacturer-approved kit. Check the manual or with the maker before running a line.
Does a fire pit gas line need a permit?
New gas piping usually does. Check with the City of Villa Park and ask your plumber who pulls it.
Can the trench be shared with irrigation or electrical?
Rules on shared trenches and separation vary. Ask the plumber and the inspector before planning a shared trench.
General information for Villa Park, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.