Answering Some Commonly Asked Questions About Gas Plumbing in Your Home

When you hear the word "plumbing," you may automatically think of water connections and pipes in the home, but gas connections to the stove or hot water heater are also referred to as plumbing. Connecting these properly and maintaining them over the years is very critical, as a gas leak can allow the home to fill up with fumes; this can be unhealthy and downright deadly, and also create the risk of an actual home explosion. Because these fittings are so critical, note a few commonly asked questions about gas plumbing and then discuss these with a plumbing installer as needed.

Can a homeowner connect their own gas appliances?

It's typically not recommended that a homeowner connect their own gas appliances since you want to ensure this job is done safely and correctly; in many areas, it may not even be legally allowed! You can call your city clerk's office or whatever department issues building permits and ask about restrictions when it comes to attaching new gas appliances. They can tell you if you're allowed to do this on your own, or if there are actually permits needed and other restrictions for getting this done.

What can be done if a home has repeated gas leaks?

If your home has repeated gas leaks coming through the plumbing lines, it may be time to simply re-pipe the lines altogether. If those pipes are older and made of galvanized steel, this can mean they've rusted or suffered some type of corrosion that will result in more and more leaks as time goes on. PVC or copper piping is often recommended instead of galvanized metal, and new pipes will mean no corrosion, stronger connections, and less risk of future gas leaks.

If water smells bad, is that a gas leak?

If you suspect a gas leak in your home for any reason, you should immediately call an emergency inspector to check the hot water heater and all other gas plumbing fixtures. However, note that water can have a bad odour for a number of reasons, including sediment in the water, bacterial build-up, rust in the water pipes or hot water heater, a filter to a well that needs changing, and other similar causes. You don't need to panic if you smell something bad in the home's water or assume that your home will need re-piping; if the inspector doesn't find a gas leak, you may just need a water softener or better water filter instead.

For more information or advice, contact a local plumber.

Share