Signs Gas Appliances in Your Home Require Repairs

Many appliances in your home will require some basic attention or upkeep every now and then, and one of the most important classes here is all appliances that are gas-powered. Because gas can lead to safety issues if it's not properly maintained, ensuring your gas-powered appliances are working in the right ways is extremely important for preventing such risks from forming.

At Dick Kearsley Service Center, we're happy to provide a wide range of appliance repair services, including for furnaces and many other appliances that utilize gas for their operations. We strongly recommend avoiding any such repair attempts yourself, as even a small mistake could have serious consequences for both your safety and the quality of the appliance. Let's go over which appliances in your home likely include gas, plus some common signs that they may be experiencing issues and should receive attention from one of our professionals.

Common Gas Appliances

For those unaware, here are some of the most common gas appliances found in the average home, plus how they use gas:

• Furnace: This is likely the most important gas appliance in your home, as it is responsible for heating the air and keeping you warm during the colder months. Furnaces burn natural gas to create heat, which then flows through the ducts in your home to provide warmth.
• Water Heater: One of the other big-ticket items when it comes to appliances in your home, water heaters use gas to create the hot water that you rely on every day. Tankless water heaters are becoming more popular, as they don't require a tank of water to store heated water - this saves energy and is better for the environment.
• Stove/Oven: Probably one of the first things that comes to mind when you think of gas appliances, stoves and ovens use gas to create heat that cooks your food. There are both electric and gas stoves/ovens on the market, and they both have their pros and cons.
• Clothes Dryer: Clothes dryers work by heating up the air inside the drum and then forcing it out through the clothes, which causes them to dry faster. Many dryers use a combination of gas and electricity to achieve this goal.
• Range Hood: A range hood is designed to suck up fumes and smoke from the cooking area and expel it outside of your home. Some range hoods are powered by electricity, while others use a small amount of gas.

There are several other gas appliances in your home, but these are some of the most common.

Now, certain appliances will have indicators of damage or problems that are specific only to them -- and our team of professionals knows all these and can inform you of them as needed. However, there are also a few signs of gas issues that are common across many or even all of these appliances. We'll go over those in our next sections.

Strong Odor

Perhaps the single most common indicator of gas appliance trouble is a strong odor. This could be anything from a faint smell to something that's so overpowering it's hard to breathe. If you notice any sort of strange smell coming from any of your gas appliances, it's best not to ignore it and to call in one of our experts as soon as possible.

This smell will usually be of gas itself, but may also have a slightly sulfuric smell to it. It's important to note that not all sulfur smells mean there's a gas leak - but if there is a gas leak, the smell will be much stronger.

Another common smell, for instance, is that of rotting eggs. This is due to a gas called mercaptan, which is added to natural gas so that people can smell it in case of a leak. However, not all leaks will produce this smell, and it's possible for there to be a gas leak without any unusual smells being present.

Flame Color

When utilizing any gas appliance that creates a visible flame, such as a gas stove, oven, furnace, or water heater, it's important to watch the flame and look for any changes in color. If the flame is yellow or orange instead of the usual blue, this is a sign that there is something wrong with the appliance and it should be shut off and serviced.

In addition, if the flame has a "halo" around it, this is also a sign that the appliance is not working correctly.

Pilot Light Out

One of the most common issues with gas appliances is a pilot light that's gone out. The pilot light is a small flame that's lit inside the appliance to start the main fuel burn, and if it goes out, the appliance will not work.

Many times, the pilot light can be relit by following the instructions in the owner's manual. However, if it keeps going out or you're unable to get it to stay lit, this is a sign that there's something wrong with the appliance and it needs to be serviced.

Clogs Within Gas Supply

An issue that's common with certain stove burners or ovens is a clog within the gas supply. This can be due to food debris, insects, or other blockages that have caused the flow of gas to be restricted.

If you notice that one of your burners or oven isn't heating up properly, or if it's taking much longer than normal to heat up, this could be a sign that there's a clog in the gas supply. In most cases, it will be necessary to call in a professional to clear the clog and get your appliance working properly again.

For more on how to spot the signs that gas-powered appliances in your home are having issues, or to learn about any of our appliance repair or heating and air repair services throughout Utah, speak to our staff at Dick Kearsley Service Center today.