Q: Is it safe to manually light a gas water heater?

• <div><p>In most cases, yes, it&rsquo;s safe to light a gas water heater manually, but you should shut the gas off first, open a window, and let the space air out for about 10 minutes. Modern water heaters shut the gas off entirely if the pilot light goes out, but airing out the area beforehand is good practice and will ensure it&rsquo;s safe to relight your pilot light manually. Just make sure you turn the gas valve to &ldquo;pilot&rdquo; before lighting. If the light keeps going out or won&rsquo;t light at all, call in a professional.</p></div>

Q: Which types of gas pipes are more susceptible to leaks?

• <div><p>Any gas pipe can leak, especially if it&rsquo;s old or isn&rsquo;t properly maintained. However, even with a shovel, plastic pipes are more easily damaged by impact. That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s so important to have gas lines marked by the utility company before you begin digging for any reason. Some metal pipes, like black pipes, galvanized steel, and copper, aren&rsquo;t as easily damaged by impact but can degrade over the years, leading to leaks. </p></div>

Question 1

How long does it take to install or repair gas piping?

Accepted Answer

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Installation typically takes 1-2 days, and repairs can often be completed on the same day, depending on their complexity.

Question 2

Can you vent a gas water heater out the side of the house?

Accepted Answer

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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.

Question 3

Is it safe to manually light a gas water heater?

Accepted Answer

•

In most cases, yes, it’s safe to light a gas water heater manually, but you should shut the gas off first, open a window, and let the space air out for about 10 minutes. Modern water heaters shut the gas off entirely if the pilot light goes out, but airing out the area beforehand is good practice and will ensure it’s safe to relight your pilot light manually. Just make sure you turn the gas valve to “pilot” before lighting. If the light keeps going out or won’t light at all, call in a professional.

Question 4

Which types of gas pipes are more susceptible to leaks?

Accepted Answer

•

Any gas pipe can leak, especially if it’s old or isn’t properly maintained. However, even with a shovel, plastic pipes are more easily damaged by impact. That’s why it’s so important to have gas lines marked by the utility company before you begin digging for any reason. Some metal pipes, like black pipes, galvanized steel, and copper, aren’t as easily damaged by impact but can degrade over the years, leading to leaks.

Question 5

Do gas fireplaces burn a lot of gas?

Accepted Answer

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Modern gas fireplaces are relatively efficient and don't burn excessive amounts of gas, especially compared to older models. A gas fireplace might use between 10,000 to 40,000 BTUs per hour; the total amount of gas used depends on the fireplace's size, heat output, and how often it's in use. To help keep your running costs down, consider using a thermostat and turning off the fireplace when not needed to minimize gas consumption