Maintenance Tips

Prevention

You can rely on gas appliances to give you many years of safe, economical, and reliable service by following a few easy guidelines.
Insist that any appliances that you purchase have been approved by recognized testing centers. This will demonstrate that they meet national safety standards.
Have your gas appliance installed and serviced by a qualified and licensed service provider.
Follow the manufacturers instructions for lighting and operating each appliance.
Use a gas appliance for its intended purpose only. For example, do not use a gas grill indoors, or use an oven to heat a room.
Keep flammable liquids, paper, clothing, and curtains away from open flames.
Have a qualified and licensed service provider clean any gas appliance burners.
Ensure that the flame in your appliance burns bright blue, not a dull yellow-orange.
Do not use an appliance that is not operating properly. Have it serviced by a qualified and licensed service provider.
Have at least one approved fire extinguisher in your home. Salt, baking soda, or a large lid can also be used to extinguish a grease fire on a stove.
Install a carbon monoxide (CO) monitor in your home. CO is an odorless and tasteless poisonous gas that can be produced by an improperly installed or maintained combustion appliance. If your CO monitor activates, contact your fire department right away.

Home Heating

Gas equipment requires an adequate air supply for proper combustion. Without proper ventilation the equipment may produce carbon monoxide. When a space heater is used in a tightly sealed home, a door or window should be opened slightly to avoid deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
If when using a heater your eyes sting, you smell fumes, or if you become dizzy or nauseated, turn it off, open windows and doors, and exit the premises immediately. Have the unit inspected by a qualified and licensed professional before using again.
Do not operate an unvented space heater if the ceramic radiant elements are damaged or out of place. Unvented space heaters should never be used in rooms where doors are closed when occupied.
For vented heaters:
- Make sure the vent is open and drawing fumes out of the house.
- Turn the unit off if not operating properly.
- If the unit is housed in a closet, make sure the grills or louvers in the door are unobstructed.
- If you are unsure of the condition of a heater, do not use it.
Have your gas heating system inspected and serviced annually, before the cold weather season starts.
If you have trouble keeping the pilot light lit, or if the control valve is hard to operate, the equipment should be inspected and serviced by a qualified and licensed service professional.

Hot Water

Make sure your hot water heater's thermostat is set to a safe temperature.
To avoid scalding injuries caused by very hot water, make sure the hot water heater temperature is set in accordance with the recommendations in the manufacturer's owners manual.
Check water temperature before placing a child in a bathtub or shower. It only takes a half a second for a baby to suffer a severe burn in 150 °F water as compared to four minutes in water at 120 °F. Never leave a child alone in a bathtub, or without age appropriate supervision.
Remember, call Mountain Gas Services, LLC, at 828-342-3572, for help with any installation or service need.