Bradley Prais
New Member
Sorry up front that this is long. I want to provide as much information as possible to get your feedback.
Short version: I have gas to my furnace and stove/oven, but none to my water heater.
Long version: Live in Central Texas, so went through the frozen rolling blackouts and 2 days of no water. At no time did I lose gas. Once water/power returned, flushed water heater due to brown hot water. No problem relighting 40 gal water heater. All gas systems were working fine, furnace, stove, pool heater, water heater. For last 3 weeks no problems until this Saturday morning. Water flowing from several placed on the water heater (in the garage). Shut off the water and gas then called for help. New heater installed and then we discovered there was no gas to the heater. Furnace and stove still work, with no problems and no noticeable loss of gas (i.e. burners look normal at specific settings). I can not confirm if the pool heater works, as it doesn’t ignite, but I’m not getting any lights from it (so it may be a different issue).
So for sure, no gas to the water heater. The guy that installed the new heater (Plumber #1) sniffed checked the line from valve to heater…no gas detected. Directly from the valve, ensured it was open visually…no gas smell. Removed the valve…no gas smell. Verified the gas to the house was on…yes. Even sniffed checked the hose to the furnace…gas there.
Plumer #1 called in plumber #2… who repeats actions of plumber 1.. said it is blocked and we have to bust walls and cut the lines. (imagine my wife’s reaction to busting walls).
Called another organization and out comes plumber #3. Repeat of #1 & 2. Said he needed to do a pressure test. Plumber #3 calls experienced plumber #4 who suggests blowing the gas lines with nitrogen to see if it clears a block. Plumber #3 calls supervisor plumber #5 who is thinking cut the line to find the block. (It was after hours and plumber #3 was not comfortable doing that at the time of the night).
A little about the house…built 2014 single story. Gas meter is tagged 5psi. Pipe enter the house, 90 degree straight up to the rafters. Looks to be a metal 2” line, but not sure of the size. I can follow to a small T connections that runs a small flex to the furnace. Pipe runs straight approx. 6’ to another T connection. The T stem appears to go to the kitchen. Pipe runs straight another 6’ to a T connection. This T stem is the same diameter and looks to be for the pool heater (gas line for pool run was part of the house construction, not an add on). At this point, as the gas line continues straight, to steps down in size from the 2” to maybe 1” or ¾”. This runs straight about 6’, then 90 degree bend down and runs to the just above the foundation. 90 degree to parallel the foundation for approx. 3’, then 90 degree right for 1’ then 90 degree up for 2’ then it comes out the wall for the water heater. So the water heater is at the end of the line.
Any idea what happened? I’m considering having the gas lines blown out before starting to open walls and cut pipes.
I’m open to suggestions or opinions. Thanks for taking the time to read it all.
Short version: I have gas to my furnace and stove/oven, but none to my water heater.
Long version: Live in Central Texas, so went through the frozen rolling blackouts and 2 days of no water. At no time did I lose gas. Once water/power returned, flushed water heater due to brown hot water. No problem relighting 40 gal water heater. All gas systems were working fine, furnace, stove, pool heater, water heater. For last 3 weeks no problems until this Saturday morning. Water flowing from several placed on the water heater (in the garage). Shut off the water and gas then called for help. New heater installed and then we discovered there was no gas to the heater. Furnace and stove still work, with no problems and no noticeable loss of gas (i.e. burners look normal at specific settings). I can not confirm if the pool heater works, as it doesn’t ignite, but I’m not getting any lights from it (so it may be a different issue).
So for sure, no gas to the water heater. The guy that installed the new heater (Plumber #1) sniffed checked the line from valve to heater…no gas detected. Directly from the valve, ensured it was open visually…no gas smell. Removed the valve…no gas smell. Verified the gas to the house was on…yes. Even sniffed checked the hose to the furnace…gas there.
Plumer #1 called in plumber #2… who repeats actions of plumber 1.. said it is blocked and we have to bust walls and cut the lines. (imagine my wife’s reaction to busting walls).
Called another organization and out comes plumber #3. Repeat of #1 & 2. Said he needed to do a pressure test. Plumber #3 calls experienced plumber #4 who suggests blowing the gas lines with nitrogen to see if it clears a block. Plumber #3 calls supervisor plumber #5 who is thinking cut the line to find the block. (It was after hours and plumber #3 was not comfortable doing that at the time of the night).
A little about the house…built 2014 single story. Gas meter is tagged 5psi. Pipe enter the house, 90 degree straight up to the rafters. Looks to be a metal 2” line, but not sure of the size. I can follow to a small T connections that runs a small flex to the furnace. Pipe runs straight approx. 6’ to another T connection. The T stem appears to go to the kitchen. Pipe runs straight another 6’ to a T connection. This T stem is the same diameter and looks to be for the pool heater (gas line for pool run was part of the house construction, not an add on). At this point, as the gas line continues straight, to steps down in size from the 2” to maybe 1” or ¾”. This runs straight about 6’, then 90 degree bend down and runs to the just above the foundation. 90 degree to parallel the foundation for approx. 3’, then 90 degree right for 1’ then 90 degree up for 2’ then it comes out the wall for the water heater. So the water heater is at the end of the line.
Any idea what happened? I’m considering having the gas lines blown out before starting to open walls and cut pipes.
I’m open to suggestions or opinions. Thanks for taking the time to read it all.