How do I shut off flames in furnace and water heater?
Question:I would ask my husband to do this but he is no longer living so I thought I would ask someone here. I want to paint the concrete block walls in my basement. In order to prevent an explosion I know I should shut off the flame in the furnace and water heater. How do I do this? Do I call the gas company?Thanks for your help.
Answers:
At our house, there are lever valves in the line before each appliance, at the connection to the house, and at the propane tank. The line is usually copper or some type of metal. Just turn the valves the opposite way and that will stop the flow of gas from that point, and the pilot light should go out. Reverse the process when you want to relight the pilot.
I know your hesitation. I was the same way when my hubby installed our gas logs. Once you understand how it works, it's not so scarey tho. Call the gas company or get a neighbor the first time, have them show you what to do, and then you can handle it after that. It is something you need to know how to do for safety reasons.
There should be valves located on the gas pipes near each appliance, just close those valves and your good to go. Open them back up when finished and relight your pilot lights.
Unless it's an emergency, I would never do this! It can cause and unsuspected buildup of gas and susequent explosion!!
If you are going on vacation, have the thermostats set on low. Otherwise leave the compubustibles to the experts. Have your HVAC guy service the units seasonally and turn off the line for the Summer. The sevice call for a maintenance check and/ or service will far outweigh the cost of a new furnace...or worse.
Be very careful with this!
The valve you use to light your furnace pilot also should have an off on it.
There is also a shut off valve probably on the pipe feeding your furnace and your heater. You probably also have an on/off switch that looks like a light switch near the furnace that turns off the electricity.
That controls the fan inside your furnace, turn them all off and make sure you let the air clear before you paint.
As a safety method you may want to also place a CO (carbon monoxide) detector in the room so it can detect any gas leak in case you missed something and warn you. Also open all the windows in that room if you have any.
You should buy a paint that is low in fumes, that would also be a good idea, they do make them. Professionals quite often use them so you don't have fumes for days.
Do you not have a neighbour that can help you, that's what I do because my hubby travels so much he isn't always there to help with things like this.
turn off the gas at the meter to the whole house.when your done painting, and the paint is dry, the gas company will re-light your pilots.
GO TO THE GAS METER AND TUNE IT OFF THEN YOU CAN PAINT
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