Appliance Connectors

Appliance connectors are corrugated metal tubes used to connect gas appliances to fuel gas supply pipes. It’s important to have your appliance connectors checked by a qualified professional as some older brass connectors have a serious flaw in how their tubing was joined to their end pieces. These older brass connectors have not been in production for more than 20 years but might still be found and in use in older homes and buildings.

Over time, the end pieces can separate from the tubing and cause a serious natural gas leak, explosion or fire. Uncoated brass connectors should be replaced immediately. Although not all uncoated connectors have this flaw, it is very difficult to tell which ones do. Therefore, any uncoated brass connectors should be replaced immediately with a new plastic-coated brass connector or a new stainless-steel connector.

Good and Bad Connectors

Gas appliance connectors are corrugated metal tubes used to connect gas appliances to fuel supply pipes. Some older brass connectors have come apart, causing a gas leak leading to fires and explosions.

All appliances should be inspected for uncoated brass appliance connectors. Most dryers, ranges, ovens and cook tops have flexible appliance connectors as opposed to hard piping.

Examples of unacceptable uncoated brass appliance connectors:

  • Tubing has broken off the end piece.
  • Tubing has corroded, causing a hole.
  • No visible defect, although all uncoated brass connecters need to be replaced.
  • Uncoated, stainless steel connector.

Examples of acceptable appliance connectors:

  • Plastic-coated brass.
  • Uncoated stainless steel.
  • Plastic-coated stainless steel, which can be gray or yellow.

Appliance Connector FAQs

Only have a qualified contractor inspect and install appliance connectors. Locate a qualified professional or contact us at 888.248.9427 for more information.

Gas appliance connectors are corrugated metal tubes used to connect your home’s gas appliances to fuel gas supply pipes.

There are three types of acceptable appliance connectors:

  • Plastic-coated brass
  • Uncoated stainless steel
  • Plastic-coated stainless steel, which can be gray or yellow

Unacceptable, dangerous connectors are those that are uncoated brass.

CSST is a flexible, stainless steel piping system used to supply natural gas and propane in residential, commercial and industrial buildings that is coated with a yellow exterior plastic coating. If your home or business has CSST installed, it may be more susceptible to lightning strikes on or near the structure because lightning can travel through the structure’s gas piping system and cause a leak, and in some cases a fire. If work has been performed on the gas piping system in your house or business since 1990, it’s possible that yellow CSST was installed but not according to current installation requirements. We strongly recommend that you contact a licensed electrician if you find yellow CSST in your home or business. The licensed electrician can make sure that your system is properly bonded and grounded.

Your dryer, stove, range and cook top probably have flexible connectors if they use natural gas. It is recommended that your water heater and furnace have solid piping.

If your appliance is more than 20 years old, there is a good chance that it may have an uncoated brass connector. The only safe way to tell is to have a qualified contractor check. DO NOT attempt to check them yourself. Learn more about good and bad connectors here.

Moving the appliance, even slightly, whether to clean behind it or to inspect its gas connector, can cause complete failure of an older weakened connector and possibly result in a gas leak inside your home.

Appliance connectors can be purchased at any hardware or home improvement store. However, a qualified contractor should always install them.

Only a qualified professional should check or replace connectors.

As a rule, you should replace the connectors whenever the appliance is replaced or moved from its location.

To our knowledge, these dangerous uncoated brass connectors have not been made for more than 20 years, although it is always good to have them inspected.

We suggest that you arrange for an inspection through your landlord or property management company.

Only have a qualified HVAC contractor inspect and install appliance connectors. Locate a qualified professional or contact us at 888.248.9427 for more information.

Although not all uncoated connectors have this flaw, it is very difficult to tell which ones do. Therefore, any uncoated brass connector should be replaced immediately with a new plastic-coated brass connector or a new stainless-steel connector. We have been telling customers about appliance connector hazards for several years. Because this is such an important safety issue, we are increasing efforts to make customers aware of the dangers.