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If you are in Garland, McKinney, or Dallas, TX, and are stuck with rusty gas lines, you might be considering giving them a paint job. Typically, the prime motivators to want to take on such a project are either that you are planning on selling your home or that you are just tired of the eyesore that seeing rusty pipes provides. Whatever the reason for wanting to paint and seal your gas lines, we are going to take you through what is involved in the process and why you should leave it to the professionals at On Time Experts.
Sealing the Gas Line
If you have a rusty gas line, you are going to want to make sure that it is well-sealed before cleaning and painting it. Some people make the mistake of thinking that paint will properly seal any leakage that might be present, but that isn’t the case. Instead, have your gas lines cleaned and sealed before painting them. Gas lines can be exposed to weathering elements over time, causing corrosion, deterioration, and rust. Any one of these can lead to a gas leak, so if you want to paint your gas lines due to rust being present, you are already dealing with evidence of a potential issue. Sometimes, a leak can be hard to spot without the proper training. Have a professional inspect the gas line for problems as well as offer advice on how to best approach cleaning it ahead of it being painted.
Signs of a Gas Leak
Since leaks in your gas line can be hard to spot, let’s go through some of the signs that there could be one that should be professionally sealed.
- Vegetation changes
- Increased gas bill
- Sulfur odor
- Hissing sound near gas line
- White mist
If you notice slower growth in the vegetation around the exterior of your home that cannot be explained by changes in the weather or if large groups of your plants are dying altogether, this could be the sign of a gas leak. A very serious gas leak might be indicated by a cloud of white fog around your home. You will typically smell the sulfurous odor before it gets to this point, but that is not always the case.
Physical Symptoms of a Gas Leak
While you may not notice any of the above signs of a leak in your gas line, you may encounter some physical symptoms. You may also have some of these physical symptoms along with some of the above signs.
Some of the physical symptoms to be aware of include:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Throat irritation
- Blisters
- Paleness
If you are experiencing any of the physical symptoms, even if you do not smell a sulfurous odor or notice any clear environmental changes, you should immediately contact a member of our team to inspect your lines for leakage.
How a Professional Seals Your Gas Line
If a leak is suspected in your gas line ahead of it being cleaned and painted, the first thing a professional will do is shut off the gas at the valve. This allows them to do the work of sealing the gas line safely. Next, they will inspect the pipe and identify any holes, cracks, deformities, or irregularities. If they find a leak, your plumber will typically use a pipe sleeve to create a secure seal.
A plumber should also check if your pipe threads have become warped or loose. Pipe threads that are loose or damaged may require tightening or replacement of the pipe.
After everything is sealed, the final step before cleaning and painting is testing that the steps that have been taken have resulted in a proper seal.
Cleaning Before Painting
Depending on the condition of your gas line, once it’s all sealed against leakage, cleaning it before it’s painted could take way more time than you might think. That is just one of the reasons to have a professional handle it for you. The other big issue is safety. Any time you are working in close proximity to gas, there are risks of fire and inhalation intoxication. Having one of our highly trained team members handle all aspects of this project for you takes away any potential risk to your health.
Typically, the first step of cleaning a gas line is to use a wire brush to get as much loose rust off as possible. This will get any loose scales, major rust flakes, and old, cracked paint off. Other fine-tuning cleaning steps will then be taken to ensure that the line is smooth and free of rust. This is so that, once it is painted, the paint job on it will last for years to come.
Painting the Gas Line
After the gas line is sealed and cleaned, it’s ready to be painted. The gas line that is on the side of your gas meter that is going into the ground is typically maintained by the gas company, which is why it will often look like it’s in better shape. The side that goes from the meter into your home is your responsibility as a homeowner. This is the side that you are sealing, cleaning, and painting.
To paint a gas line, a professional will place cardboard or some other barrier over the line to act as a backsplash so that excess paint doesn’t wind up on your home. Ahead of painting, they may coat the line with a corrosion inhibitor or rust converter for an extra level of protection. They will then paint the line to match your meter and the side that is maintained by the gas company.
While every precaution will be taken so that the work that is done will last for several years, it is worth having a member of our team set up annual maintenance for your gas lines. That way, we can be sure that any further issues with the lines are found early.
Your Trusted Gas Line Team
At On Time Experts, we understand Texas homeowners. We have been serving the community here since 1965, and we are proud to put our customers first. That is why one of our policies is that we make sure that we do it right the first time. We also make sure that you get a real, live person on the phone any time of the day that you call us. On Time Experts is committed to giving you the most comfort and the best experience. That kind of dedication starts with the ownership here and works its way down to every employee. It also doesn’t start and stop with handling your gas lines. We are a one-stop shop that can handle not only your plumbing needs but all of your heating, cooling, and indoor air quality services as well. Give On Time Experts a call today to find out more about what we can do for your home.
