My mom asked to have a look at it (for an investment property) at lunchtime, and I figured it was above my pay grade and we called in the utility company to have a free safety check. I made the call and it was weird because they called it an "emergency" and the automated messages (before talking to customer service) with a warning to not be there if there was any kind of gas odor and don't use any electronics or flashlights. And they said they could possibly get there within 5 minutes, although it turned into maybe 30 minutes. When the tech arrive my mom was wandering around the neighborhood and I had to find her.
He didn't seem to be too concerned that things would blow up even though the automated messages when I originally called were about staying outdoors and waiting for the cavalry to arrive. He said we were fine to just watch him work. He had a methane detector and started probing the lines in the gas dryer and then right at a T splitting the gas to the water heater and furnace. That's when it just started going off, so it was definitely a leak there. He had a spray bottle with soapy water and sprayed it there and determined that it was leaking from the end of the valve, but not the valve mechanism. He tightened it and there doesn't seem to be a leak any more but said it wasn't a permanent fix and it needs a new valve.
It was really nice as the tech checked all the gas appliances in the house to determine if they were in good working order and did a check of the meter.
I for one am not qualified to do this sort of work. The tech said it was a temporary fix, but that the valve should probably be replaced. We have someone who can fix this and is apprently coming tomorrow. I sent this photo to my parents and they sent it to the guy who does the work and he said something about 1/2". I don't think there's anything quite like it, but just where the valve mechanisms are different. I think it takes this:
He didn't seem to be too concerned that things would blow up even though the automated messages when I originally called were about staying outdoors and waiting for the cavalry to arrive. He said we were fine to just watch him work. He had a methane detector and started probing the lines in the gas dryer and then right at a T splitting the gas to the water heater and furnace. That's when it just started going off, so it was definitely a leak there. He had a spray bottle with soapy water and sprayed it there and determined that it was leaking from the end of the valve, but not the valve mechanism. He tightened it and there doesn't seem to be a leak any more but said it wasn't a permanent fix and it needs a new valve.
It was really nice as the tech checked all the gas appliances in the house to determine if they were in good working order and did a check of the meter.
I for one am not qualified to do this sort of work. The tech said it was a temporary fix, but that the valve should probably be replaced. We have someone who can fix this and is apprently coming tomorrow. I sent this photo to my parents and they sent it to the guy who does the work and he said something about 1/2". I don't think there's anything quite like it, but just where the valve mechanisms are different. I think it takes this:
BrassCraft 1/2 in. OD Flare x 1/2 in. FIP Gas Ball Valve PSSD-41 - The Home Depot
BrassCraft Manufacturing's exclusive line of Italian-made gas ball valves are specially engineered to provide unsurpassed product performance. From the stem to the body to the exclusive handle design,
www.homedepot.com