East Bay Gas Lines - Gas Flame & Noise Defects

Gas Flame & Noise Defects - How to Identify & Report Other Defects in LP or Natural Gas Appliances by Examining the Gas Burner Flame or Burner Noises

*** Safety Recommendation: gas grill we suggest keeping the gas turned off at the rubber hose connection below the rear deck as leaks could be very dangerous. The use of rubber tubing rather than iron piping is unsafe and may not be permitted for this installation, and we suggest you review this question with your local fire inspector. Usually this is not a significant expense if correction is needed. This item should be addressed promptly.



Gas Appliance Flame Observations:Caution: examining the burner when this appliance was operating we noted that the flame was floating above the burner ports. You should check with your utility company or heating appliance service person. Possible causes include high gas pressure, clogged flue, inadequate air supply, excessive or very cold drafts.

Gas Appliance Flame Observations: [Example heating system inspection report topics] Caution At the ___ appliance, the gas burner flame was
... yellow and lazy [inadequate gas pressure or inadequate combustion air],
... unusually high [possibly excessive gas pressure],
... making a popping noise when turned off and on,
... burning at the orfice,
... spilling out of the burner area,
indicating a possible malfunction of this equipment.
Any of these conditions is potentially very dangerous and needs prompt attention. You should have your utility company or service person check the appliance immediately.

What should a gas furnace or boiler gas burner flame look like?

When properly adjusted the gas burner for a 100,000 BTU gas furnace or gas boiler, will have a flame about 1" or so high. The top of the gas flame will roll slightly 90 deg across and be blue in color.

If the gas pressure is too high you will notice the tips of the flame much higher, pointed and orange in color. The orange gas flame color usually means there is too much gas for the air mix input. [Dust, debris, or other problems in the gas/air mix ratio, such as a mis-adjusted or blocked air intake at a gas burner will also change the flame color and pattern.] Thanks to Charles or Mike Trumbature for suggesting this comment.

Details about gas flame color and diagnostic suggestions are at FLAME COLOR, BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION.

What does the presence of rust or debris mean when found on a gas burner?

Excessive rusting every year usually accompanies these problems of improper gas pressure, inadequate combustion air, or wet conditions. If you vacuum a lot of rust one year and it is back the next, then there is a problem that needs to be diagnosed and corrected. (Rust can damage a heat exchanger, cause a hole, and make the heater unsafe. Rust can also indicate general moisture conditions that could be causing other damage to or safety problems with the heater, including flue or chimney safety hazards.

Looking for rust on a gas heater's burner is a simple, quick visual check anyone can do to see if there is cause for alarm. If rust is recurrent as we describe, further inspection is needed, and the gas pressure regulator should be checked as well. Some of the residential gas furnaces or gas fired boilers show the correct flame patterns in their Installation and Operation Manuals.

source:  http://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/gasfaults5.htm

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East Bay Gas Lines - Safety & Inspection of Natural Gas Meters for Home Inspectors & Home Owners

Safety & Inspection of Natural Gas Meters for Home Inspectors & Home Owners

Indoor Gas Meter Inspection, Defects, & Recommendations Gas meter location: gas meters are located outdoors except when special permission is given by the gas company. Indoor gas meters increase the risk of an indoor gas leak, require special venting, and can make it more dangerous to shut off gas in an emergency. If your gas meter is located indoors you should discuss this matter with your gas company. In this photo the gas meter shown is an obsolete model (so perhaps at higher risk of dangerous natural gas leaks into the building (an explosion hazard), and we saw no gas regulator and no vent from the meter to outside. This meter needs to be inspected by the local gas company. It may need to be relocated outside or vented to outside for safety.

If the gas meter is located close to a heating system, such as in this photograph where the piped-in natural gas meter and its control valve were located next to and nearly touching a hot air furnace, you should review the safety and building code compliance installation with your gas company. Gas piping or meters which could leak gas into a heating system or duct system are dangerous.

If the gas meter is close to or touching the ground outdoors or touching a building surface indoors, such as in the photographs above where the piped-in natural gas meter is outside partly buried and inside the gas meter resting on and touching brick in a wet basement, there is a danger of gas meter corrosion and dangerous gas leaks. Outside the soil needs to be removed so that the meter is not touching dirt. If this corrective measure means that we've created a low area by the foundation it's important to keep roof spillage out of the low spot or we may invite building foundation leaks and basement water entry. A window well can be installed around such an excavation to help keep surface runoff away from the building. You should review the safety and building code compliance installation with your gas company as soon as possible. Gas piping or meters which could leak gas are dangerous. In this photograph (click the photograph to enlarge it) corrosion is visible on the bottom of the gas meter where it's supported by wet brick.

Gas Meter Capacity or Adequacy

Safety Suggestion: gas meter adequacy: If additional gas equipment has been added to this building since the installation of the original gas service meter, it is possible that the added demand can result in low gas pressure or unsafe operation. The meter itself may need to be replaced with a higher capacity unit for safety. Please review this question with your gas supplier.

Gas Meter Venting Requirements

When a gas meter is used indoors good practice and plumbing codes require that the meter regulator be connected to a vent pipe extending to the outdoors so that in the unlikely event of a leak-failure of the gas pressure regulator, leaking gas will not accumulate in the building where it would form an explosion hazard.

Safety Recommendation: gas regulator vent: We did not find a vent pipe venting the gas regulator (located inside the building) to outside. Such vents are recommended and may be required by local or state codes for safety. Please review this question with your gas supplier.

source: http://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/gasfaults7.htm

http://www.eastbaygaslines.com

East Bay Gas Lines Danville - How to Change a Kitchen Range from Electric to Gas or Gas to Electric

How to Change a Kitchen Range from Electric to Gas or Gas to Electric



A frequent question is one concerning replacing a gas stove with an electric range or vice versa. Often people may be buying a new home and are in the habit of cooking on one type of stove only to find that the opposite and unfamiliar type currently exists in their new kitchen. Well don’t worry, all is not lost!
Let’s look first at replacing an electric stove with a gas stove. A gas stove requires both electricity and gas to function properly. Gas stoves no longer rely on a pilot light to ignite the burners. The ignition source comes from an electric ignitor located at each burner. In addition, most gas stoves will have an electric clock and many are what is referred to as “dual fuel” stoves that have gas cook tops and an integrated electric oven for baking. This means that, in addition to a supply of gas, you will still need electricity available for your gas stove.
The conversion is fairly simple but the services of a licensed electrician or electrical contractor should be employed. Only a few steps are required to modify the electrical circuit. In almost all cases, you will be able to use the existing electrical wire from the circuit breaker panel to the stove location since the requirements for the gas stove will be significantly less than that of the old electric stove. The conversion will require replacement of the two pole circuit breaker with a single pole circuit breaker to provide the 120 volts required by the gas stove. In addition, the large 240 volt electrical receptacle will need to be replaced with a standard 120 volt receptacle for the gas stove to plug in to. In most situations, the entire job can be completed in not much more than an hour with minimal materials required. Of course, you will need to hire a licensed plumber to install a gas line unless one already exists at the desired location.
The change to an electric stove is a bit more involved as the existing electrical wiring for the 120 volts required by the gas stove will not support the higher electrical power demand of the electric stove. This type of conversion will require a new, larger electrical wire to be run from the electrical panel to the stove location. A new two-pole circuit breaker will also need to be installed in the breaker panel and a new 240 volt receptacle will need to be installed at the stove location. A licensed electrician is definitely required for this type of electrical installation. Depending on the distance from the electrical panel to the location of the stove, this project could take from as little as an hour to several hours to complete. In addition, a licensed plumber should be retained to ensure proper capping of the gas line to prevent any leaks from occurring.
In any case, you are certainly not stuck with having to settle with one type of stove or the other. Replacing the stove to the desired type is a task that can be accomplished but it does require a little planning before you purchase your new appliance. Beware of electrical service providers that work from national price books or “flat rate pricing” in order to come up with a cost to complete this type of project. Their price will almost always be more costly than a service provider that gives you a custom bid based on your specific situation. The one-size-fits-all approach rarely fits anyone very well.

by Tim Jackson
belcoinc

http://www.eastbaygaslines.com

East Bay Gas Repair - Portable Firepit Versus Built-In Fireplace - East Bay Gas Lines Danville

Portable Firepit Versus Built-In Fireplace

How to choose which fire feature is right for your needs

You built your patio to extend your living space beyond the walls of your home. You created an enticing outdoor room or two with furniture cozy enough to suit your living room but durable enough to withstand the elements. Maybe you're constructing an outdoor kitchen that goes beyond a simple charcoal grill. And, of course, you have plants.
Still looking to spice up your outdoor life? Whether your backyard dreams involve bundling up for a chat with a couple of close confidantes, nestled on a cushioned outdoor love seat, or invite the whole gang over for s'mores and ghost stories, the solution is the same: Just add fire.

Here are a couple of options:

Portable Fire Pit If you're looking for design flexibility, you could be moved - so to speak - by a portable, standalone fire pit. These models offer a sort of a campfire feel. Because you can place them anywhere, they offer 360-degree access, which makes them perfect for group gatherings. Which enables maximum conviviality, extra-loud "Kumbaya" singing and an unlimited number of people who can get their marshmallow-roasting sticks into the mix!
Standalone fire pits may not have the anchored, homey appeal of a built-in fireplace or fire pit, but that doesn't mean they can't be elegant in their own right. You can get them in industrial-style metal, mesh, stone or even polished copper for a look that suits you. Some higher-end fire pit models are powered by a natural gas source, but most use wood for fuel.
Bonus: the convenience factor. The ability to move the unit easily means it'll be less of a hassle to clean, with the added bonus of being able to experiment freely with your backyard's feng shui.

Built-In Fireplace If you're feeling a bit more attached to your outdoor design, a built-in fireplace might fit the bill. Fireplaces create an intimate hearth feeling and can invite lively (yet civilized!) conversation among a small group of people.
One advantage to built-in fireplaces is that they're protected from the elements - namely wind, which can kick up embers and shift the direction of the smoke - and direct smoke upward and away from your guests' faces. That protection will also make it much easier to light.
As far as materials go, you'll be building out your fireplace in a material that matches or coordinates with the other materials in your outdoor space: brick, stone, marble, tile, you name it. Aesthetically, the sky's the limit. Some are wood fueled, and others are hooked into your home's natural gas line just like any indoor fireplace would be.
Built-in fireplaces definitely offer an extra boost of aesthetic appeal that a free-standing fire pit won't. Installing one will also add value to your outdoor living space if you keep it in top shape; that kind of high-end extension to your indoors makes the patio livable for more months out of the year and adds that high-end je ne sais quoi. (Translation: lots of appeal to potential homebuyers.)
But before you go worrying about what the future owners of your current home will think, just focus on enjoying the bright flame in your backyard, regardless of the season.

source: By Chris Heiler, garden designer and LandscapingNetwork.com columnist

http://www.eastbaygaslines.com

Gas Line Repair Danville - Fire Pits Design ideas for outdoor fire pits - East Bay Gas Lines Danville

Propane Fire Pits


Zaremba and Company Landscape in Davisburg, MI

 

Adding a fire pit as part of your landscaping will extend the enjoyment of your backyard for you and your guests. They provide warmth, light, a cooking source, and ambiance, making them a natural gathering spot for socializing, entertaining, and relaxation. People are drawn to the campfire-like atmosphere, and before you know it, there will be story-telling and laughter. A fire pit can also serve as an important focal point in your outdoor landscape design. When placed where it can be easily seen from your interior living space, it can be enjoyed from the indoors as well.
There are many options when it comes to the size, shape and style of a fire pit. You can have a built-in fire pit installed, or you can purchase a portable one that can be moved about your yard. If opting for a built-in fire pit, you'll be able to choose from a variety of outdoor finishing materials including concrete, stone and brick. And remember, fire pits don't have to be round-they can be square, L-shaped, triangular, or an entirely custom shape.

Get these tipsIn this section, you'll find tips from landscaping professionals on:

• Choosing the best fire pit type for your needs (built-in, prefab or portable).
• How to size your fire pit based on how much space is available, how many guests you expect to entertain, and the height and arrangement of your outdoor seating.
• The differences between a fire pit and an outdoor fireplace, along with a chart that can help you evaluate the most suitable choice for your outdoor living space.
• Weighing the pros and cons of the various fire pit fuel options, including gas, propane, wood and ethanol.
• Determining the best location for your fire pit, considering factors such as convenience, space availability and safety.
• Determining the best size for your fire pit, depending on how many people you plan to accommodate and the room you'll need for outdoor seating and unrestricted traffic flow.
• How local building codes may impact where you can locate your fire pit as well as when you can use it and what types of wood you can burn.
• The cost ranges for various types of fire pits and how to choose the right style for your budget.
• Selecting a facing material for your fire pit that ties in with your patio and the materials on the exterior of your home.
• Choosing fire pit fill materials that are both decorative and heat absorbent, such as lava rock, river rock and recycled glass.
• How fuel costs will impact the overall cost of operating your fire pit.

Because of the vast array of fire pit designs available, and the importance of choosing the appropriate size and location for your fire pit, be sure to consult with a landscape designer for advice and guidance.

source: By Sarah Tate, LandscapingNetwork.com Columnist

http://www.eastbaygaslines.com