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Inspecting
your Appliances
Routinely (at least
annually) call a service technician to examine your gas appliance(s) for
any conditions that may render the appliance(s) inefficient or unsafe for
use, similar to how you have your automobile checked periodically. All
appliances, including gas, should be regularly inspected and maintained,
just as electrical appliances, to eliminate possible hazards from short
circuits and other malfunctions that could create hazards.
A routine inspection
should consist of (but not be limited to) detecting any unsafe or
potentially hazardous situations, such as the following:
- Substandard and/or lack
of venting systems on appliances requiring them.
- Sootiness and/or the
accumulation of soot around interior and exterior appliance components
such as around pilot lights, appliance burners, range tops, oven
components, etc. This indicates that the appliance is not operating
properly or efficiently.
- Leakage of water around
or through water heater valves, fittings or jackets. CAUTION: This
should alert you to the fact that the water heating device has some
internal damage.
- Missing
or damaged control components such as dials, knobs, screws, etc.
- Controls that have been
tampered with ( evidenced by altered design function, missing or
substitUted components, etc.).
- Controls that have been
under water or subjected to flooding. Such controls may not function
properly and must be replaced.
- Unstable appliance
bases and/or platforms. Warped, rotting or substandard bases and/or
platforms may collapse creating a potentially hazardous condition.
- Problems
in gas line connectors such as kinks, corrosion, deterioration, etc. Any
abnormality should be immediately reported to your propane supplier
since failure to correct these problems could create a hazardous
situation.
- Unsatisfactory
operation of gas valves rod safety controls.
- Gas leakage in the appliances or
piping system.
- Improper appliance and gas system
installation
NEXT:
A Word About Vented
Appliances
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