Homeowners used to use coal to heat their homes, fuel their cooking appliances and heat their water. This practice has been replaced with more energy efficient fuels like natural gas. Here are the top ten tips for using or installing gas appliances in and around your home and when to call Plumb-Pro’s journeyman gas fitters for help.
- Natural gas has no smell, but an odorant is added before it gets piped into houses for heating. If there is a smell of gas inside or outside your home, call Plumb-Pro to have a gas fitter check your installation.
- If you or your family have recently developed headaches, dizziness, nausea, or weakness, it could be gas poisoning, which means that your heater isn’t working properly. Call Plumb-Pro to have a licensed gas fitter fix the problem.
- Pilot lights and main burners that are working properly produce a blue flame. If the flame is yellow or red it isn’t burning efficiently, call Plumb-Pro.
- It is a good idea to have your gas appliances serviced on a yearly basis. Plumb-Pro’s journeyman gas fitters can catch small issues before they become big problems.
- Don’t try to operate natural gas appliances on other types of gas. This can be extremely hazardous. If in doubt, call Plumb-Pro to have a journeyman gas fitter help.
- If you need any gas work inside your home, do-it-yourself is not recommended (and sometimes illegal). Without certification and proper licensing, you are limited to portable gas appliances like barbeques and patio heaters — call Plumb-Pro!
- All gas work undertaken at your property should have a gas certificate for safety and/or compliance filled out by the gas fitter unless the appliance is simply being cleaned out.
- To prevent hazards and accidents, it is a good idea to avoid build-up on your gas appliances.
- Always light a match or press the ignition button before turning on a gas burner. If you can’t get it to light, turn off the gas and wait for the smell to dissipate before trying again.
- For professional and no-nonsense heating installation of gas fireplace inserts, garage heaters, appliances, and more, call Plumb-Pro.