I have two hot water systems—a tankless by Rinnai and a Rheem Platinum Performance gas heater with a tank.
I use the tankless more than the one with the water tank since it is more cost-effective. Gas heaters with tanks have to turn on and off the gas burner to keep the water hot, while a tankless gas heater will only turn on when needed.
Both systems are connected, and it is only a matter of turning on or off the valves if I choose to run one or the other.
Two weeks ago, I decided to run the Rheem water heater and discovered that no hot water was coming out. A phone call to Rheem support was easy, and I could talk to a lady technician, Christine, who was friendly and helpful.
Her diagnosis is that the gas control valve (GCV) needs the culprit, and since the pressure relief valve was also leaking, Rheem will also send a replacement for both. My tank has a 12-year warranty.
My wife smelled something like natural gas downstairs, but I did not smell it. I always thought I had a better sense of smell than her.
Since I’ll be doing the repair myself, I ordered this propane and natural gas leak detector by Yeezou from Amazon.
It can also detect combustible gases like Methane, Liquified Petroleum Gas, Liquefied Natural Gas, Fuel, and Sewer Gas. The flexible sensor neck allows it to pick up gases in narrow areas. The LEDs light up, and an 85dB alarm will go off if it detects gas
The instruction manual is easy to understand. It needs 3 AAA batteries, which is not included.
The parts, instructions, and a new owner’s manual from Rheem came today. The removal and installation were easy.
I only had to buy a 1/2″ NPT pipe to facilitate removing and installing the gas control valve and a Millrose Blue Monster Pipe Thread Sealant Tape for lines carrying natural gas and others.
After installation, the instruction manual recommended using soapy water to check for leaks. However, when I was reading the reviews of the Yeezu propane and natural gas leak detector, someone mentioned that it could detect a gas leak that the soapy water missed.
So I checked my work, and there was no gas leak. But gas was detected about six to eight inches away, coming from a pipe fitting. I didn’t touch it before. Maybe it got loose when the tank was installed back.
A few turns with a pipe wrench solved the gas leak. I never smelled any gas, even when the gas detector was beeping loudly and lighting 4 LEDS.
Two years ago, a house from Lackawanna, NY, two towns away from me, exploded due to a gas leak in the basement.
The blast was felt miles away, and seven other homes were damaged. A 92-year-old lady was pronounced dead on the scene. It is possible that she didn’t smell the gas leak. Natural gas is mixed with mercaptan so that a leak can be detected.
In these times when many people have a deterioration of their sense of smell due to COVID-19, a $32 investment in a gas detector is undoubtedly worth it.
Learn more about natural gas leak safety tips on the ADT website.
With the detection of a gas leak, mine paid for itself already.
Get a Gas Leak Detector.
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