While there are several different indications to show you when your gas appliances need maintenance, it is still very important that you read through your owner’s manual to see when it is a good time to get a check-up. Most appliances ask that you get a check-up every 1 to 2 years but this varies between brands. If you need help fixing your appliances please do not attempt to fix them on your own unless you are a professional with knowledge of gas appliances and how they work. Attempting to fix a gas appliance without proper training is very dangerous and is not in any way recommended. Below is a list of different things to watch for when wondering whether it is time for maintenance.
Color of the flame
Did you know you can tell if there’s something wrong with your gas stove just by the color of the flame? Blue indicates that everything is fine while red or yellow means it’s time for maintenance. If you are using a gas furnace that has a flame inside the fireplace, yellow or red flames may not indicate the need for maintenance but and are usually just the appearance.
The smell of gas or a strong chemical
If you can smell gas throughout your restaurant or a strong chemical it’s time to call for maintenance. This is a very serious and dangerous situation and it’s very important that you are not messing with anything that could cause a flame, such as smoking, lighting a match, or the usage of electronics. Immediately check anything that could be using gas and turn it off, especially when you did not plan on using it. If you continue to smell gas walk around the house immediately call a professional. Sometimes the most common source of a gas smell, is that someone forgot to turn off the burner. If this is the case turn it off and wait a couple of minutes before you call for maintenance. If there is no smell after this you don’t need to call maintenance.
Burner malfunction
If you find that the burner is not working as well as it should be or has fewer flames than usual this could be a sign that you need maintenance. It also could just be built up within the burner. In that case, your stove might just need a good scrub and clean. Making sure that nothing gets clogged within the burner is very important. Watch out for spillage while cooking and/or using the stove. Make sure to clean your stove every week to keep this from happening.
Gas Heater
When your heater isn’t working or is not functioning like usual check for lint or dust inside. Lint, dust, and build-up cause a heater to overheat and/or cause combustion problems. Check your owners manual, you may be able to clean it out yourself but if you are unsure, call for maintenance. If you already checked for build-up call a maintenance provider to look at the problem.
At Touchstone Commercial Services, we are here to help! If you need commercial maintenance done on any appliance or HVAC system in your business we can help, for questions or to make an appointment you can call us at 1 801-497-8879 or contact us online.
