I have an old gas stove that I am planning to replace. My problem is that the gas outlet behind the stove comes out of the wall approximately 24 inches above the ground. It also protrudes approximately 3 inches from the wall. All the new stoves I have considered purchasing do not allow for this and would ultimately mean that any new stove would not fit up close enough to the wall and the front of the stove would stick out beyond the countertop by a few inches. What are my options and approximately how much should it cost me to have the gas line lowered closer to the floor to accommodate a newer stove?

Hi Cookman...

Is the gas pipe coming from above or do you have access to the gas pipe from underneath in a basement?

If you have access to the gas pipe from the basement, you can simply shut the gas off at the gas meter and remove the gas pipe from in the wall upstairs down into the basement and bring it up within the first 2-5 inches of the floor about an inch to center of the gas pipe off the back wall where most stoves allow room for the gas pipe. From there you would connect a shutoff and then a flexible gas connector as allowed in your area.

If your gas pipe comes from above then you will be best to open the wall and extend the pipe into the space behind the particular stove you choose.

You should also plan on testing your gas pipe and having a local gas inspector inspect your work if you are allowed to do gas piping in your area. Let us know if you want information regarding proper gas testing of the new work (more involved than you might think). You must test your work in some way... ;)

Also, be sure to install the anti.-tip device supplied with your new stove... this hanger saves lives every day!

More questions? Just let us know, OK?

Mark

Two things:
One is that the stove must be able to slide all the way out from the wall if cabinets are on both sides. This means that the shutoff and coupling to remove it must be either above it or on a 3' flexible gas line behind the stove, usually in a recess in the back.
But the second thing is that local code may or may not allow flexible gas line, and some towns have a habit of going back and forth on this. So call your building inspector (not always easy to reach, so you can ask a plumber or two while waiting for a call back).
Cost? Depends on how much you will let a plumber chop out some wall and what repair you want, what the wall is made of, where the next threaded pipe is under the floor or behind the wall, and whether you can have flexible pipe. If your cellar is below it, that will help.

OOps, Mark answered already, and didn't mention flexible gas line, so maybe I am 20 years out of date on that.

I did mention the flexible gas line...

"From there you would connect a shutoff and then a flexible gas connector as allowed in your area"... so in perfect agreement there Joypulv... :)

Good point on double checking on local requirements, however, as in my area I am limited to a 3 foot flexible connector, maximum and in some areas it is 4-5 feet. I'll bet that some places may not even allow flexible connectors to this day, huh?

Hey! Always appreciate the back up, for sure!

Mark

Oops again. Has flexible gotten better, so more areas allow it?

With the newer stoves they just don't have access through the under-back side or up top like they used too... metal goes all the way to the floor on backside so these flexi. Connectors are really the only option most of the time.. :)

Mark