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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.

The effect a gas fireplace has on your gas bill will depend on how often you use it, the size of the rooms you’re heating with it, and the BTUs of the fireplace itself, but generally speaking, it should only cost a few cents an hour to run it when it’s on. It will consume minimal energy when it’s “off” if you have a pilot light running constantly, but some modern gas fireplaces don’t require a constant pilot light.

No, fixing or patching a hole in a gas line may not seal it completely. A patch should be a temporary solution because the damaged area will be weaker than the rest of the pipe, increasing the likelihood of future leaks. Therefore, if a gas line incurs damage, call a licensed plumber and have it replaced right away.

In some cases, the answer is yes. Being licensed to work on gas lines requires additional specialized training beyond being a licensed plumber. If the plumber is also licensed as a natural gas plumber, they will be able work on natural gas lines. If the plumber is only licensed to work on water and sewer lines, then you’ll have to find another professional to do gas line work.