Ever take a peek at your water heater, furnace or boiler and notice an extra bit of pipe on the gas supply line? What’s going on here? Did the plumber run out of 90 degree elbows? Actually that extra segment of pipe is there for a reason. Most installers I know in the Western Chicago suburbs call it a “drip leg”. In this image, the gas supply enters at the top, passes the drip leg , then through the yellow shut-off valve and into the water heater’s burner. The idea is simple, if there is any sediment or debris in the gas supply or pipe’s interior it will fall into the drip leg rather than gumming up the works in your water heater. That’s just one of many point’s I check out while inspecting gas equipment. Do you know someone buying a home in Batavia or Geneva Il? That’s my neighborhood and I’d love to help with their home inspection!
