East Bay Gas Lines Danville - here's the help you need for your furnace and heater repairs

 

 

I can still remember the joy I felt when our old furnace fired up on all six cylinders (a.k.a. burners) and roared to life. I couldn't wait to see the expression on my wife's face when she felt the heat coming into our freezing three-bedroom condo.

The night before had been a cold one. The inside temperature had dropped to 57 degrees, and it was time to turn on the heat. Unfortunately, nothing turned on that dark and frigid morning.

 

After troubleshooting things like the thermostat and gas supply, it was time to have a look inside the furnace.

At 28 years old, it was an oldie but a goodie. It was really dusty though. Really dusty...So much so that a sensor (called a furnace thermocouple), had become covered in years of filth comprised of things I'll never be able to describe.

Needless to say, it couldn't do its job of detecting heat from the pilot and turning on the gas to the burners. It's a sensor after all...it's a bit like asking you to tell if a sunny sidewalk is hot through your shoes!

Happily, all it took was a quick cleaning and tapping of this small metal sensor, and we were up and running again... at least for that day.

As it turned out, while carefully cleaning the innards of our ancient machine got us warmth that morning, it did nothing for an underlying problem that only a professional technician could diagnose: a faulty gas supply valve, which had simply pooped out from age.

Today's forced-air heating systems consist of a furnace heating the air, a large blower (motor-powered fan) for circulation, and a maze of air ducts going throughout your home to deliver the heated air.

A separate system of air ducts is in place to bring back the air for re-heating by your furnace.

Home heater repair often comes when you most need to heat your home, just like us that cold winter morning.

The crummy part is that most furnace and heater repairs require a service professional once you've checked the basics.

The good news is that you can avoid a major heater repair through basic seasonal maintenance, routine cleaning, filter replacements and other adjustments.

It's not completely black and white of course because symptoms like a noisy furnace can be due to a little lack of TLC on your part, needing a simple tune-up or something more dramatic, like a broken component somewhere in the system.

All of this stuff helps give your central heating system a longer life and less need for repair. The most noticeable benefit to you is the cozy, warm house you have when it's really cold outside.

Gas furnace repair can be reduced by keeping the thermocouple, pilot and burner tubes clean. Limit your oil furnace repair by doing tasks like cleaning the oil burners and keeping them well-oiled.

Things can go wrong your system such as broken belts, fan motor failure or thermostat problems. Luckily these issues are rare...but they do happen because even a blue moon comes around sometimes, right?

My goal is to give you some basic furnace and heater repair tips as well as provide many of the maintenance items you can do to help keep your home heating system running so you can live comfortably.

source: http://homerepairgeek.com/heater-repair


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East Bay Gas Lines - Furnace & gas line safety tips

A gas leak refers to the seeping of natural gas, frequently through a pipe, which can endanger the lives of those in the area. While the fumes may cause health problems, the larger problem is the potential for an explosion because natural gas is highly flammable.

1)      Have your furnace and gas lines checked every spring and fall.
2)      If you ever smell natural gas (it smells like rotten eggs) open the windows and call the gas company immediately (don’t assess it yourself).
3)      You may hear unusual noises coming from your gas lines.
4)      Don’t turn on lights or use a cell phone.
5)      Don’t ignite or light a lighter, smoke etc.
6)      Clear out—immediately—and warn others to do the same.
7)      Do not start a car or any nearby machinery.
8)      If you’re in a building with elevators—don’t use the elevator.
9)      Do not try to manage the situation on your own.
10)   From a safe place, call the gas company and 911.

If you have not had your furnace checkup during the fall, call us today to schedule one

by Larry Howald

East Bay Gas Lines Danville - Gas Grill Maintenance

Photo: Courtesy of Wolf Appliances

Nothing announces the arrival of summer like firing up the grill. Unfortunately, nothing sours a summer party faster than a grill that won't light, smokes too much, or cooks unevenly. Grease, marinades, and sauces wreak havoc on gas burners, while charcoal grills suffer the corrosive properties of charcoal.

Grills of all kinds, from simple kettles to stainless steel restaurant-grade infrared grills, require maintenance to ensure that they perform and last. "At least twice a year you need to pull the grill apart to get inside and take a closer look at it," says Derrick Riches, barbecue and grilling guide for About.com. A thorough cleaning ensures that the burners fire properly, heat distributes evenly, and the grill is safe. Regular maintenance also allows you to catch problems like rust early on. Here is a This Old House primer on keeping your grill in shape.

Inspect the Chassis: Grills with welded joints or connections with pop rivets can rust. Scrub rust off with a stiff wire brush or coarse steel wool, apply a rust-inhibiting primer, and paint the grill's exterior with rust-resistant metal paint. Keep fasteners tight to ensure the base is stable and safe. Replace damaged grill appendages, like wheels, handles, or any other part of your grill, by contacting the manufacturer. You can also refer to the CLA Grills and Service website, or the Appliance Factory Parts website. Use dish soap or a mild detergent to clean cast aluminum grills, and Simple Green all-purpose, biodegradable cleaner for stainless steel ones. 

Clean the Burners: Riches stresses that cleaning burners keeps the unit working at its best. Burner ports can fill with grease and close up, leading to hot and cold spots on the grill. While the unit is cold, use a stainless steel wire brush or flexible pipe cleaner to remove the gunk from a traditional gas burner. The flames should be distributed evenly throughout the burner after a good cleaning. Brush off any ash that accumulates on infrared grills, and be sure to keep the glass clean. Infrared grill manufacturers suggest using Bar Keepers Friend, a non-abrasive cleaner, to remove any deposits. Running the grill for 10 minutes on high after cooking also helps keep the ports free of build up.

Flame Color: There are a couple of reasons gas flames turn from their normal blue with yellow tips to completely yellow. The most common is inadequate gas pressure from the tank. Since propane expands at freezing temperatures, the pressure bladder in the regulator (a round disk attached to the gas line) can freeze into place and limit the flow of gas to the burner. If you have a yellow flame, try this remedy: First, turn the tank off and turn off the grill's control valves. Next, disconnect the tank, then open and close the control valves. Finally, reconnect the tank and slowly turn the gas back on to check the flame's color. Another cause of yellow flame is pressurized propane that, over time, can force the burner ports to widen. As a result, too much gas escapes. Riches recommends inspecting the burners and replacing them if they are misshapen or cracked. Once the burners are cleaned, light the grill to ensure that all flames are blue and similar in height.

Grease traps: Grill grease traps are typically trays or disposable aluminum cups beneath the firebox that collect fat. Keep these traps clean and drained because large pools of grease can ignite. Burners combined with a grease fire will exceed the maximum amount of heat the grill can handle.

Hoses: Replacing a worn or damaged fuel line is an easy task once you locate the problem. Manufacturers suggest coating everything—from the tank, to the venturi tubes, which connect the control valve to the burner—with soapy water. For a neat job, Riches uses a basting brush to apply the soap solution. Then, turn the grill on. Any bubbles that appear on coated areas indicate escaping gas, which can be fixed by replacing the hose or O-ring. The gap in the venturi tubes mixes gas with air enroute to the burner and can easily clog with debris or insects. Riches recommends wrapping the tubes with aluminum screen to let air in and keep bugs out.

Between the Burner and Grate: Sometimes called the radiant or flavorizer bar, this part of the grill evenly distributes heat to the grate above and produces smoke when food drippings seep down. "Most of the wear is in the flavorizer bars, because they see the most heat and grease," says Brooke Jones of Weber Grills. Brush off grease and debris from the metal plates because they can trap moisture and cause rusting. Replace lava rocks or ceramic briquettes if they give off a rancid flavor.

Grill Covers: Keeping a grill protected from the elements is the easiest way to preserve it. Covers should have a cloth inner lining to draw moisture away from the metal. A simple plastic sheet holds moisture in, creating a humid environment around the grill, which can lead to rusting. Use a canvas, cloth, or vinyl cover that fits the grill appropriately. Keep in mind that UV rays beak down cheaper, generic covers.

source: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1638829,00.html
by Sal Vaglica

http://www.eastbaygaslines.com

Gas Line Repair and Work - Skills You Need to Survive Homeownership - Deal With the Strong Smell of Gas - East Bay Gas Lines Danville

Don't get caught with your toolbelt down—learn this technique and tackle any household emergency with ease

A closed-up kitchen with gas flowing from an open unlit burner can create a combustible atmosphere in as little as 10 seconds. So if you smell gas—we mean really smell gas—do not turn on the lights or use a telephone, cell phone, flashlight, or computer, all of which could create a spark, blowing the place sky high. Instead, haul everybody out of there and call the gas utility or the fire department immediately.

source: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20434090_20863285,00.html
this old house magazine


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East Bay Gas Lines Danville - 10 Tips for Maintaining Your Gas Fireplace

Gas fireplaces are great additions to any home; they look great and are more efficient than wood fireplaces; however they require regular maintenance. Gas fireplaces can be dangerous; therefore it is very important to take the maintenance seriously. This article will take a look at 10 tips for gas fireplace maintenance that will help keep you safe and your fireplace working efficiently. If you think there is any kind of problem with the gas fireplace have a professional take a look at it, ignoring problems can be dangerous and deadly.

1. Safety first

When attempting any maintenance or cleaning you should make sure the gas valve is turned off; if the valve is not turned off there is potential for injury or death.

2. Get the unit inspected

When dealing with a gas fireplace you do not want to take chances, if anything seems off about the unit you should call in a licensed gas technician to be on the safe side.

3. Does your gas fireplace have a working fan?

Not all gas fireplaces require the use of a fan; however some people install fans to spread the heat out throughout the room. If you happen to have a fan make sure to check if it is working properly, if it is not you are not getting the full benefit of the fireplace.

4. Ventilation system

The ventilation system is one of the most important things to check while doing routine maintenance on a gas fireplace. If there is any clogging or anything preventing the ventilation system from working properly it needs to be fixed immediately. If there is something clogging the ventilation system you could have a very unsafe fireplace that could cause injury or death.

5. Clean the glass on the door

About every 1-2 months you should clean the glass door to make sure there is no nasty build up or irregularities. Make sure to use a cleaner that the manufacturer deems safe for the gas fireplace. Most hardware stores and large home improvement stores sell special glass cleaner for gas fireplaces and can be found near the fireplace accessories.

6. Do you need to take the door off to clean it?

When cleaning the glass on the gas fireplace door you have two options, you can leave the door attached to the unit or remove it and clean it on a soft surface. If the gas fireplace is turned off and you feel comfortable cleaning it while still attached then you can clean it this way to save time and aggravation.

7. Have you checked the fake logs lately?

The logs that are used in gas fireplaces can become dirty and can even break on occasion. Make sure to inspect the logs on a monthly basis or at the first sign of unusual behavior; skipping this step could cause malfunction and possibly injury. When cleaning the fake logs make sure to use a soft bristle log cleaning brush, which can be picked up at most hardware stores.

8. Don't skip annual maintenance

Although annual maintenance for gas fireplaces is very expensive since it requires a licensed gas technician it is a good idea to not skip maintenance. If there is a leak or build up in the ventilation system you could be out a lot more money than the maintenance cost in damages. Many gas fireplace owners skip this step to save a few dollars; however skipping this step can cause malfunction and even injury.

9. Use recommended cleaners for cleaning logs, glass, and interior

I worked for a local hardware store for multiple years as a student job and know the prices of cleaners for gas fireplaces, some can be very high. Although the cleaners may be expensive you should not try your own solution unless it is recommended by the manufacturer; you could be voiding your warranty and damaging the unit. Do not cut corners!

10. The pilot light

The pilot light can be turned off during the spring and summer when the stove is not in use; it can also be easily turned back on during the months that the stove is in use. Always read the instruction manual before tampering with the pilot light.

Sources: http://voices.yahoo.com/10-tips-maintaining-gas-fireplace-4115875.html?cat=6
by Josh Mason

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/04/04oct25e.cfm

http://hearth.com/econtent/index.php/articles/cleaning_glass

East Bay Gas Lines - Gas Appliance Safety

  

When lighting any match-lit burners or ovens, always light the match before turning on the gas. If the flame goes out, turn off the burner and let the gas disperse before relighting.

Clean away any grease, oil or debris from the area around burners to help prevent fires.

Never use water to put out a grease fire. Use baking soda, or if a fire is in a pan, smother the flames with a lid. A fire extinguisher in the kitchen is also recommended.

Move any flammable objects — towels, curtains, calendars — away from range burners and other hot surfaces.

 

Ovens

Never use your oven for domestic heating. This misuse of your oven puts you at risk of burns from hot surfaces and shortens the life of oven parts and controls. Use only heaters that are designed for domestic heating and follow the manufacturer's operating instructions.

 

Make sure your water heater issecurely anchored to a wall. This will help prevent the heater from shifting and possibly falling in an earthquake.

If your water heater is on an elevated platform, make sure the platform is sturdy enough to withstand the weight of the water heater and movement during an earthquake.

A temperature of 120 degrees F is adequate for most household uses with minimal danger of scalding and maximum energy efficiency. Dishwashers require a temperature of 140 degrees F for proper disinfection and cleaning. Most dishwashers preheat the water to the proper temperature; if not, lowering the water-heating temperature is not recommended

Do not store flammable materials — mops, brooms, laundry, newspapers — near your water heater.

Do not store combustible materials — paints, solvents, gasoline — in the same room or near your water heater.

  

Your furnace should be serviced once a year to help maximize its life and performance. Follow the instructions in the owner's manual, or call a qualified professional.

Have your furnace checked for fire hazards such as a damaged firebox and any dislodged, clogged, rusted or damaged vents.

Clean or replace your filter regularly, or after each month of heavy usage.

Replace the blower door cover after checking your filter.

Securely fasten the door that covers the pilot light and burner area.

Do not store combustible materials — paints, solvents, gasoline — in the same room or near your furnace.

Do not store flammable materials mops, brooms, laundry, newspapers — near your furnace.

Air-supply vents must be clear of obstructions. Furnaces need a constant supply of fresh air to run efficiently and safely.

Kerosene heaters or other unvented heaters are not recommended and should only be used in well-ventilated rooms. Always operate your heater according to the manufacturer's instructions.

All Gas Appliances

Do not store flammable materials — mops, brooms, laundry, newspapers — near gas appliances.

Do not store combustible materials — paints, solvents, gasoline — in the same room or near your appliances.

Make sure a flexible gas line connection is installed connecting the gas houseline (the gas pipe connecting your appliances to the gas meter) to the appliance to reduce the likelihood of damage if movement should occur.

You should have an appliance gas shutoff valve installed at each gas appliance that lets you turn off the gas to that appliance only if there is a gas leak, or if the appliance needs to be replaced or serviced.

source: http://www.pge.com/myhome/edusafety/gaselectricsafety/gasappliancesafety/

 

http://www.eastbaygaslines.com

 

East Bay Gas Lines - Upgrade and Save Energy with Fireplace Inserts

 

According to the National Association of Home Builders, fireplaces rank among the top three features desired by new homebuyers. Unfortunately, fireplaces are also major air gaps—they can send up to 8 percent of valuable furnace-heated air flying out the chimney, making them really fun to look at but inefficient as heating sources. Here's the good news: You can transform your firebox into an efficient room heater by adding an insert.

An insert, installed by a factory-trained professional (to ensure proper venting and best efficiency results), will draft-proof an open fireplace while the unit's shell keeps heat in the room and away from the masonry. The cost can can set you back about $2,000 to $4,000 (pro install included), depending on the state of your existing chimney (does it need relining?) and the model you select. But this investment pays for itself by slashing those monthly heating bills.

This redesign of the popular wood-burning "Pacific" model now has a more refined look and can fit into smaller fireplace openings. The unit features an airwash system to keep its heat-conducting ceramic glass clear and one-touch adjustable temperature control. Variable speed blower included, to easily heat up to 2,000 square feet. Available in one- or two-door styles with gold, nickel, or metallic trim. Unit measures 29h x 42 3/4w or 33h x 44 3/8w. 

 

This unit is will fit most factory-built and masonry fireplaces and features a realistic dancing flame over a log set cast from real wood. Blower delivers heating for up to 2,000 square feet via optional wireless remote thermostat control. Available in a variety of face options and inset designs. Unit measures 29h x 41w thru 33h x 48w.

The mid-sized gas model offers a simplified operating system and electronic ignition for easy lighting. It's can heat up to 2,000 square feet (with optional fan) and is available with a variety of finishes and frames. Unit measures 33 3/8h x 44 3/16w or 36 3/8h x 48 3/16w.

This model delivers the most heat in the Enviro pellet insert line of product, quickly heating up to 1,800 square feet. It features an ignitor, easy-clean ports, and a three-piece glass bay door for optimal flame-watching. Feed the hopper with renewable recycled wood wastes, dried corn, or another readily available economical source for your area. Personalize the look of the unit with 24K gold or nickel door cover and trivet options. Unit measures 28h x 40w or 33h x 46w.

By Tabitha Sukhai OLD HOUSE MAGAZINE
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20341633,00.html

 

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