How to Lay Black Pipe

Measure the distance of pipe required for your project. If you are repairing a leak, the fix may require no more than a few feet to lay. If you are re-routing the system, adding a branch or starting from scratch, the process is principally the same as a repair.

Account for every T and elbow in your layout. T's and elbows require you cut the pipe and thread it. For example, for every straight 6-foot distance, you will simply need to thread each end of the six foot pipe for the fittings. For shorter pieces that run into a T or an elbow, you will need to cut the pipe, then thread it.

Put thread-seal tape over the treads before attaching a coupler, elbow or T. Once you have twisted the attachment onto the threads of the pipe, spray the joint with non-corrosive paint and move to the next section of pipe.

Re-check measurements of your layout periodically as you are laying your pipe. Measurements are rarely perfect, so when they change as you move toward the end of your system, simply adjust your distances and cut the lengths of pipe accordingly.