Connect a gas appliance?

Question

When connecting gas to an appliance, there will be air in the connector hose. Is it important to remove that air before lighting the appliance? How would you remove it?

Answer 1

There will be a 'slug' of air in the line, and your pilot lights won't work until you get gas in there.

Open the burners, or whatever until you get gas. (Not TOO MUCH please.)

Then light the pilots.

Answer 2

You're right that there will be air in the line.    The safest (though sometimes time consuming) method of bleeding off the air is simply to hold the pilot light button on and keep sniffing until you smell gas, at which time you can attempt to light the pilot light. -- Assuming the appliance you are referring to has a pilot light.

If the appliance is like most new gas-fired kitchen ranges, it will have an electronic spark ignition.  Again, you can simply hold the k**b to the sparking position and wait for the burner to light.

While I do not specifically recommend this method, I have seen professionals  use it when there is a long supply line (and therefore lots of air to bleed off).

Ensure that the work area is very well ventilated.  Ensure that there are no open flames or other sources of ignition in the area.  With the gas supply turned on, carefully loosen the stainless steel supply line at the point that it connects to the appliance.  Loosen it only about 1/4 turn or until you hear the slightest hiss of escaping air.  Let the air escape only until you get the first good whiff of gas odour.  Tighten the fitting and check for leaks with a bit of soapy water.   You will still have to bleed the rest of the air present in the internal piping of the appliance as described above.

Incidentally, I assume that you check all of your connections for leaks with soapy water as soon as you turn on the gas supply and before even thinking about lighting the appliance.

Answer 3

there will be a minimal about of air in the connector hose. the best way to get rid of it is to turn your burner on one at a time and let them run for a couple of minutes, or if you have a pilot light like on water heaters and furnaces hold the pilot button down for about 20-30 seconds and then you will be good to go.