I have a rental unit and the last residents did not pay their gas bill and therefore the gas was turned off. When we finally got the unit back in order and back on the market, we needed to have the gas service returned to the home.

The gas company informed us that the gas was off for several months and therefore the lines must be bled for the gas to reignite the pilots for the furnace and water heater. Gas service has been restored but how do I bleed off any air in the lines prior to lighting the pilots? Thanks

Mark

Gas lines like water have mains and branches. How I would do it is turn on a burner in the gas stove and Hold a lit lighter over the burner until it lites off. Now light the pilot lite and that takes care of the stove. If you have a gas furnace I would do the same thing. If you're uncomfortable with that call in a professional
. Good luck, Tom

Thanks Tom.

I tried your suggestion on the furnace pilot but it must have an enormous amount of air in the line as it actually blows out the match. I went through a whole book of matches and still no lighting of the pilot. In pilot mode on the valve it must just let very tiny amounts out because I tried for over a half an hour and still no flame.

I then turned to the hot water tank and tried that instead. After about 30 minutes (and another book of matches) without success I called the gas company for assistance.

They told me it just has lots of air in the lines and need bled off before the gas can actually come out. They refused to offer any advice on the best method that will save my fingers from burnt matches other than suggesting they could send a tech out for $100... figures.

I don't have a gas stove, just electric, so that won't help. I thought about putting a couple of pipe wrenches on the gas line after the valve that leads to the furnace, then shut the valve off, loosen the fitting after the valve and then let some air/gas out but slightly turning on the valve... but am not real sure if that is a safe bet or not. Any other suggestions?

Mark

I had a new gas heater installed, to bleed the new line, he took the pipe loose from the heater, let the gas run for a minute or two and then hooked it back up, then held the pilot down for a few minutes to bleed the air in the heater.

Not recommended for non professionals