Gas is an essential component for running a household. It is used for various purposes across your home— for instance, water heaters, cooking, and so on. Without realizing it, we consume gas daily.
For such a vital element to run smoothly, you must know everything about it. Having a gas plumber on standby isn’t sufficient. You should understand the potential problems of gas plumbing so you can steer clear of safety hazards.
For starters, it is essential to ensure perfect gas installation in Melbourne in the first place. If it starts off right, everything else goes right! Proper installation significantly reduces the frequency of issues in the future.
So, here are 5 problems you may encounter related to gas plumbing. Read on until the end to learn how to ensure safety with gas. Feel free to bookmark it if you wish to refer back later!
1. Connectivity Issues
Several valves, pipes, and meters are necessary to securely transfer natural gas from the main supply line to various gas-powered appliances. These fittings must be connected to the appliances in your home.
You must depend on professionals for making these connections and gas fittings in Melbourne to ensure reliable work and long-lasting performance. However, these connections may still develop problems due to degrading material or other reasons.
If you feel gas leaking from the gas line, you must immediately call a plumbing service in Altona and get the leak fixed. After your call, the expert will investigate and do what is required. Sometimes, they may suggest a pipe replacement to fix the connection issue.
Remember: Do not try to fix a gas leak yourself.
2. Gas Block
Gas line blockages are a frequent issue in many Australian households. A gas pipe may become blocked by water, tree roots, insects, dirt, and debris. Additionally, the gas line may suffer a nasty dent or kink that prevents gas flow.
More signs of a gas block:
- The main gas supply line may be working well, but the gas is not getting to the appliance.
- A gas-powered device may emit a low flame.
- Your water heater may fail to supply hot water even when the temperature is set to the highest level.
Gas blocks are more than just an inconvenience. It can build up gas in the lines resulting in a burst. Especially if the pipes are corroded, the built-up pressure can easily cause the weak spots to burst.
As soon as you notice these signs, cut off the main gas connection and call 24/7 emergency plumbing services to fix the block in the best way possible.
3. Device Malfunction
Gas-powered appliances are rather useful, and they are expected to last for many years. However, there comes a day when they develop issues. Thus, in general, it’s better to have a general maintenance service if you have a lot of old appliances.
By doing routine maintenance, you may defer the gas-powered appliance’s deterioration. To keep these in excellent working order, hire a commercial plumber regularly to check their condition and do necessary repairs.
Besides, these appliances may act up for various reasons resulting in faulty ignition or combustion followed by gas leakage. If the problem is due to incomplete gas combustion, natural gas might leak into your home and cause an accident.
This poses a serious threat to everyone in the home. Thus, you must call a 24-hours emergency plumbing service right away if any gas-powered appliances in your home start to fail. Do not forget to shut off the gas supply line, so it is safe until the plumber arrives.
4. Copper Gas Lines
Your home’s gas supply network is built using a variety of pipes.
- Flexible corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) pipes
- Galvanized steel
- High-density polyethylene pipes
- Copper gas pipes
However, according to plumbing experts, copper pipes are not advised for use in gas lines. Copper produces sulfites, which block gas lines. Further, copper is a good conductor of energy, thus risky to use it for transporting gas to homes. It’s particularly common in old houses.
Therefore, you must hire a plumber to replace the copper gas line with pipes made of suitable materials. So, mark it as a priority and replace them!
5. Valve Issues
Your home’s gas line can have more than one gas valve. It is set up in your home to regulate the flow of natural gas. They are constructed from a range of materials, including plastic and metal, that are strong enough to withstand the required pressure.
However, these gas valves may become defective or develop leaks over time. When it happens, the gas supply will be stopped, and you might not be able to run the gas-powered appliances.
You must repair the malfunctioning gas valve in your home to make it work again. Sometimes, you may even need to replace the gas valve. Call a commercial plumber right away to get the gas valve changed the moment you find a problem with the gas valve.
Conclusion
These are the 5 common problems with gas plumbing. More than any other part of your plumbing system, gas has great significance. If handled carelessly, it can pose severe threats to one’s safety. Hence, deal with caution!
Once again, it is better to be proactive than worry after a problem arises. Schedule general maintenance of your gas plumbing by a qualified plumber. Along with the necessary maintenance, they will also fix any minor repairs before they become big. If you are looking for recommendations, here’s ours: NLK Plumbing. Their expert plumbers are well-trained in all aspects of plumbing, from gas plumbing to guttering services in Melbourne.
