Get matched with top gas log pros in Camden, AR

You can and should vent the gas from your hot water heater to the outside of your home. Traditionally, these gases were vented back to other gas appliances, like stoves or furnaces, but many jurisdictions have outlawed this practice due to the risks it provides. 

Most water heaters today use atmospheric venting that exhausts the gas out of the home through a pipe.

If you suspect a broken gas line in your home, turn the gas off at the mains and call a nearby emergency plumber. Don't attempt to fix it yourself, and don't use anything that could cause a flame or a spark. Your pro has the tools and experience to safely repair the gas line.

Installing a gas line is no simple task. From start to finish, you’re looking at anywhere from six to 12 weeks to acquire the correct permits, dig a trench, and connect your appliances. Naturally, the longer the gas line, the longer it will take to complete. If your plumber needs to hire additional contractors to dig trenches and navigate around or remove obstacles, this could put you at the longer end of the timeframe. 

Once the land is prepped and licenses acquired, installing the actual line may only take a few days to a few weeks, weather permitting.

Even if you invested in the cost of a gas shut-off valve for your oven and other appliances, it’s a good idea to add a seismic shut-off valve as an extra safety measure. 

Gas shut-off valves for appliances are manual, meaning someone has to cut off the flow of gas. This leaves room for error, as you might not be home or might be too distracted to think about gas lines during an earthquake. An earthquake valve is automatic and will protect your home from gas-related disasters in the event of an earthquake.