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Message
House gas line issue
Posted on 4/3/17 at 10:32 pm
Posted on 4/3/17 at 10:32 pm
A couple of weeks ago, I did some work in my laundry room moving water lines inside the wall. I unhooked the washer/dryer/water heater to do the work and turned off the gas line to dryer and water heater. Ever since I did that job, I have been having trouble with keeping the water heater pilot lit. I thought it may be the thermal couple but i also noticed that the dryer wasn't getting hot so now, I am more convinced that it is a gas delivery problem. Within 2 weeks, the pilot light has gone out 3 times now. Every time I relight the pilot, it stays on for a few days then goes off again which is why I'm inclined to think the thermal couple is fine.
Has anyone experienced this before and if so, was it a gas meter issue? Air in the line? Any other issues yall can think of? I'm just not ready to shell out the money it will likely take to have a plumber come out and start testing/messing around but will if it have to.
FWIW, i am going to call the gas company tomorrow to see if they will check the meter and POSSIBLY do a pressure test on the line (doubt they will).
Has anyone experienced this before and if so, was it a gas meter issue? Air in the line? Any other issues yall can think of? I'm just not ready to shell out the money it will likely take to have a plumber come out and start testing/messing around but will if it have to.
FWIW, i am going to call the gas company tomorrow to see if they will check the meter and POSSIBLY do a pressure test on the line (doubt they will).
1
Posted on 4/3/17 at 10:36 pm to cberni1
when the pilot goes out, does gas keep flowing or does it stop?
Posted on 4/3/17 at 10:50 pm to Spankum
I think the reason the pilot is going out is because of the gas not flowing but I can't validate that. I sprayed soapy water on the gas fittings for leaks and found nothing. I imagine the only way to validate that would be take the gas line off with the valve open when the pilot goes out but doesn't seem to safe.
Posted on 4/3/17 at 10:59 pm to cberni1
the way to check this out would be to put a recording gauge or chart on the gas system inside of your house to check pressure with the appliances running. Since the gas company does not normally service appliances or piping inside of your house, they likely don't own a chart or recording gauge for pressures that low.
Posted on 4/3/17 at 11:04 pm to cberni1
Is the dryer heat sporadic or does it never heat?
What kind of control is on you water heater? Some have a resettable thermal fuse. I can't tell how many times I serviced a WH and the customer swore it was just a TC, but it turned out to be the thermal.
You won't die, if you "burp" the gas line. You unhook and turn valve on and turn off.
Only really done to verify flow and force air out.
Weird issue you have.
I don't see how you could have done it unless you kinked a gas line. But that shouldn't be possible.
What kind of control is on you water heater? Some have a resettable thermal fuse. I can't tell how many times I serviced a WH and the customer swore it was just a TC, but it turned out to be the thermal.
You won't die, if you "burp" the gas line. You unhook and turn valve on and turn off.
Only really done to verify flow and force air out.
Weird issue you have.
I don't see how you could have done it unless you kinked a gas line. But that shouldn't be possible.
Posted on 4/3/17 at 11:24 pm to Napoleon
My money is on a kink and both appliances fighting for gas, the one with the least restriction at the time is winning and the other goes out/starves.
Posted on 4/3/17 at 11:32 pm to Napoleon
quote:Sporadic. For example, the reason I noticed the pilot on the water heater went out the second time is because I threw some cloths on the dryer to heat up for a few minutes and when I checked them after about 10 minutes, they were room temp. So i check the pilot on the water heater and saw it was out. That's what leads me to believe i'm not getting gas flow correctly.
Is the dryer heat sporadic or does it never heat?
quote:I think it's just a standard natural gas thermostat. Doesn't look to be anything fancy.
What kind of control is on you water heater? Some have a resettable thermal fuse. I can't tell how many times I serviced a WH and the customer swore it was just a TC, but it turned out to be the thermal.
Posted on 4/3/17 at 11:34 pm to cave canem
quote:I was inclined to think this too since the gas line out the wall is T'd off. The first line getting gas is the dryer, then the water heater. But, while I'm no science expert, gas is a free flowing element so i can't imagine it would starve/clog like water would.
My money is on a kink and both appliances fighting for gas, the one with the least restriction at the time is winning and the other goes out/starves.
I double checked the lines and there are not crazy hard bends in them.
Posted on 4/3/17 at 11:52 pm to cberni1
quote:
gas is a free flowing element so i can't imagine it would starve/clog like water would.
Yes it is, however you have a regulator and a restriction between it and the endpoint changes the equation.
If no kinks I would be skeptical the local valve is all the way open, I doubt both appliances suddenly developed issues, and 3 days later there should be no air in the line to cause this.
If you are dealing with a supply issue the burner in the dryer igniting will lower the flame in the pilot enough to cause it to extinguish due to TC not getting hot enough.
Could be something else but my bet is diminished gas supply for whatever reason.
Posted on 4/4/17 at 12:21 am to cave canem
quote:I agree. I checked both valves and are fully wide open.
If no kinks I would be skeptical the local valve is all the way open, I doubt both appliances suddenly developed issues
quote:But, i went out there one morning and the dryer wasn't heating up either. In your example, it would seem the dryer would still ignite every time and get hot but would only impact the water heater. That's what is so confusing.
f you are dealing with a supply issue the burner in the dryer igniting will lower the flame in the pilot enough to cause it to extinguish due to TC not getting hot enough.
This post was edited on 4/4/17 at 12:24 am
Posted on 4/4/17 at 12:44 am to cberni1
Sounds like a bad valve. How old is it?
Posted on 4/4/17 at 12:49 am to cberni1
quote:
But, i went out there one morning and the dryer wasn't heating up either. In your example, it would seem the dryer would still ignite every time and get hot but would only impact the water heater. That's what is so confusing.
I would suggest you disconnect the line and verify that it is flowing freely, there is no end of reasons it may not be from a marble being placed in it (children) to dirt dobbers.
Was your configuration the exact same before? If not what did you change?
Posted on 4/4/17 at 2:09 am to cave canem
quote:Nothing changed. No gas pipes were messed with or adjusted. I simply unhooked the gas line from the dryer and Water heater and turned the valves off. I have lived in the house for about a year and this has never happened until I moved the appliances.
Was your configuration the exact same before? If not what did you change?
Posted on 4/4/17 at 2:10 am to Hammertime
quote:The valve going to the dryer is older. Valve going to the water heater is somewhat newer.
Sounds like a bad valve. How old is it?
Posted on 4/4/17 at 3:09 am to cberni1
Beginning to sound as if you have a bad pressure regulator.
LP or NG? Either way take something solid and tap the regulator a few times.
LP will be on the tank, NG next to the meter.
LP or NG? Either way take something solid and tap the regulator a few times.
LP will be on the tank, NG next to the meter.
Posted on 4/4/17 at 3:17 am to cave canem
quote:
LP or NG?
NG. Thanks again for the help. I'll give it a few taps. Hopefully, I can figure out whats going on.
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