Gas Valve Repair & Installation
Whenever you're dealing with gas pipes and valves, it's always wise to hire a professional to do the work. That being said, however, there are smaller jobs that you can very easily do yourself, that might not require the experience or skill of a trained professional, or the fees that come along with hiring them to do the job for you. One example of a task that's easy to do is replacing your gas valve or repairing it. If you've never done a home maintenance project before, then this is a relatively good one to start with, as it requires very few tools and can be done within a matter of minutes. Here is a guide to repairing and installing your gas valve.
Find a good replacement valve. You're going to need to make sure that you get the right gas valve when you venture off to the hardware store. It's a good idea to get one that is exactly like your old valve, given that it has the proper fittings and is the right size. Also, while you're at the hardware store, pick up some basic tools, like a couple of wrenches, as well as some pipe joint compound.
Shut off the gas supply. It's imperative that you shut off the gas supply leading to the pipe that you're working on, in order to avoid a serious, and possibly fatal, accident. The valve that you're replacing is what shuts off the gas to that pipe, so you're going to want to shut off the gas at the source to keep it from getting into the line.
Remove the old joint and replace it with the new one. Take off the old valve with a wrench and apply joint compound to the pipe's threads if necessary. Next you can install the new valve, and turn it off right away. You can then reconnect the supply line and apply more pipe compound to the flare part of the pipe fitting.
Turn the gas back on and verify that there aren't any leaks. It's now safe to turn back on the gas and verify that there aren't any leaks. You can do this by simply rubbing soapy water onto the pipes and the fittings, and ensuring that there aren't any bubbles appearing. If there are bubbles, then you'll need to re tighten until there aren't any.
If you have carried out these steps and encounter any problems or detect the faint smell of gas in your home, then you should make sure that your home is well ventilated and call a professional immediately. Most will perform emergency service calls for a fee. Though this is simple and straightforward project, you may have problems with your pipes that stretch beyond just the gas valve.
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