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Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [gas]

For questions generally relating to the supply and use of gaseous methane or propane fuels within or around a home.

Please use the more specific tags instead if you know which type of gas your question relates to.

638 questions
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Why do gas water heater exhausts have an air gap before the chimney?

Every conventional (i.e., non-direct-vent) gas water heater I have seen has a roughly 1" vertical gap between its exhaust port and the exhaust vent (or "chimney"). See photo below. What function does that gap serve? How does the gap not pose a…
feetwet
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Is it possible for a gas fired boiler to consume more energy when heating intermitently versus having heating at all times?

I have an argument with my dad regarding energy consumption of a gas-fired wall radiator home central heating system. Their current setup involves no thermostat and the boiler deciding when to fire based on some kind of curve calibrated to use an…
KubaFYI
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6 answers

Should a gas water heater be shut down if the water main has to be turned off?

I have a brand new AO Smith 50gal gas water heater. Today there was a burst pipe from the cold spell we're having currently, so I had to turn off the water main to the house until the plumbers get here tomorrow. With that, nobody had used any hot…
Chris W.
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17
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6 answers

How to convince plumber that there is a gas leak?

I had some gas lines replaced in the crawl space and the next day after the plumber left I noticed a minor gas smell. I got into crawl space with a HomeFlex leak detector and it is clearly going off full blast around one connection. However, I…
Uncle Meat
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3 answers

How to (safely) permanently turn off natural gas?

We're switching out the natural gas oven for a new model, and we opted for electric. We already have the 240v supply in place and ready to go. The oven is the last piece of natural gas equipment in our home. We still have pipes running about for the…
Tyler M
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15
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1 answer

Disconnecting a gas stove (New Zealand)

We are having a new gas stove delivered and I consulted a gas fitter to get the old one disconnected (so the delivery people can take it away) and come fit the new one. The gas fitter surprised me when he said I could disconnect it myself, as there…
Moo
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15
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4 answers

How can I tell if these pipes are gas lines or water lines?

I recently moved into an in-law unit of a large old house. In the kitchen, there are two pipes coming out of the wall (one protruding out a little more than the other). I had assumed they were gas lines to connect my stove. But since the stove…
Erica
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14
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6 answers

How can I repair this gas leak on my new range? Teflon tape isn't working

I'm trying to install this GE gas range, so I attached everything and tightened all the nuts. Unfortunately, there's gas leaking at the base of the stove (where the flare connects to the stove). I first tried without teflon tape at the base, and…
rbhat
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Should I replace two 75-gallon (gas) water heaters in series with a tankless heater?

We live in the Midwest in a large home that was built 20 years ago. At the time, we installed two 75-gallon gas water heaters, and the plumber did this in series, not parallel. We also have a system of pipes for hot water recirculating to each of…
Shelly Lee
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11
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What could be wrong with gas fireplace that turns off when I turn it on?

Pilot light is lit. When I turn it on, it starts up, normal amounts of flame. Then it turns a blue flame, and slowly disappears until even the pilot light goes out. This was working not even 2 weeks ago, and to my knowledge, nothing has changed…
esac
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11
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6 answers

Is there really any difference between yellow and white PTFE tape?

Yellow PTFE tape (aka Teflon) is supposed to be used for sealing gas pipe thread, and white PTFE tape, for water. But is there really any difference between them? I had always thought that yellow was specially formulated to resist methane and other…
BillDOe
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10
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6 answers

Is this gas range ventilation setup dangerous?

I recently moved in to a new apartment that has a gas range and oven. I have never had a gas stove before, and so I am not sure how it should work. While cooking the other night, our Carbon Monoxide detector went off. I was using the fan on the…
jjeaton
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10
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5 answers

Is it safe to transport a gas water heater lying down?

I need to replace my water heater. I've happily been using gas for the last 30 years and will continue to do so. I have a minivan which will easily swallow the heater and all its packing material, but I'd have to lay it down to get it in. Are there…
FreeMan
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What kind of gas shut off valve is this and how do you use it?

I was wondering how to use this gas shut off valve. It looks like it requires a special type of key but I have had no luck in finding out what type of tool I need.
Adam
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10
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6 answers

Do Gas Ovens have actual fires?

I suspect that my Amana oven may not be working properly, but I don't know for certain. I had food in there for two hours, and the food got warm but not at all hot. I also smelled gas pretty strongly. When I look under the oven (inside the broiler)…
Burt
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