Is your water heater taking longer than usual to heat up, or making whistling sounds when it's running? Is the pilot light going out more frequently than before, or are gas bills increasing significantly with no explanation? These are all key indicators that there could be air in your water heater's gas line. Purging air from the gas line can save you time and money in the long run and help keep your home safe, so let's get to it!

Prepare the Gas Line

Turn Off the Gas Supply

Next, turn off your water heater's gas supply at the shutoff valve on its main gas line. With this step complete, you’re now ready to begin purging air from your water heater’s gas line. The goal here is to push all of the air out of the line and replace it with an oxygen-free environment full of combustible gas.

Attach a T-Valve

Start by attaching a T-valve to the end of the water heater's gas line, and then connect an air-purge gauge to one side of the T-valve. On the other side, attach a length of flexible gas line that will reach outside your home. Make sure all connections are sealed tightly with plumber’s tape or pipe dope as you go, so no air can escape from any gaps in the fittings. 

Purge The Line

Now it's time to open up the main shutoff valve and turn on a burner at low pressure (just above “off”). When you do this, you should start to see bubbles forming inside the gauge. As these bubbles continue to form, you should be purging the air from the water heater’s gas line. When no more bubbles appear, shut off the burner and turn off the main shutoff valve to complete the purge.

Double Check Connections

Once you’ve finished purging your water heater’s gas line, make sure that all connections are tight before turning on your pilot light or any other gas-powered appliances. Doing so will help ensure a safe and efficient flow of combustible gases into your home. 

Contact City Plumbing and Rooter for Water Heater Assistance

Following these simple steps can help you safely purge air from your water heater's gas line and prevent dangerous accidents due to faulty connections or inefficient delivery of combustible gas. If you'd prefer to leave this job to the professionals, our team at City Plumbing and Rooter can help! Contact us today for all of your water heater, plumbing, and drain cleaning needs.