Have you seen, or do you have,  the flexible gas piping (CSST) that some plumbers are installing now? It looks like metal electrical cable, covered by yellow plastic. I can’t say that we’ve never used it, but it has to be a really unusual installation for me to choose it over steel pipe. I don’t like it and wouldn’t choose it for my own house. Sure it’s easy to run, although it’s expensive and the fittings are expensive, and the labor cost will be a little less, although done right it’s still a lot of work, especially if it’s going to be concealed. I’m convinced that most plumbers use it because they are lazy! Is it really that hard to do it the old reliable way?

For a while this year we weren’t permited to use it, because it’s been found to be damaged by nearby electrical storms if it isn’t bonded properly. That has somehow been addressed in the codes, so it is allowed again, but do you really want your safety to be in the hands of the gas fitter doing the electrical bonding?

Should I mention people hanging there wet laundry on the pipe in the basement using wire hangers? Steel pipe won’t be hurt by that (although I still wouldn’t reccomend it), but CSST might be.

Yes, it is legal. Yes, it is allowed in our state now.  Developers like it. Illegal handymen like it. Lazy gas fitters like it. But we don’t.  I don’t think too many plumbing inspectors like it either, but they have to allow it if it’s installed propely.