Info about that loose wire around gas mains

[AZGuy]

I'd always been perplexed by that 14-gauge wire wrapped loosely around gas mains where they exit the ground. It didn't make any sense because it's not bonded the the gas line with a clamp or anything. I just came across a book that explained what it's about.

It turns out that when PVC gas lines (buried 18" below soil or 12" below concrete) are present, the wire isn't a bond wire, it's a TRACER wire. Duh, right?

The portion of the gas run visible above ground is always metal, so I didn't know that nonmetallic gas lines are buried underground. Kind of gives a whole new meaning to "backyard barbeque" and "blue stake before you dig", doesn't it?

[Mark P]

A tracer wire, as in in they need to locate the underground line?

[AZGuy]

Yes. Tracer wires are used when a nonmetallic underground line can't be detected otherwise.