How can I find out if I have gas heat? I do have a gas stove in the kitchen?

Question

I've lived here for a year but I have no idea if it's gas heating. I thought I had central heating and air bc there is a termostat in the hallway that kicks over to either, cool or heat.

Answer 1

Sounds like electric to me. Gas has a pilot light. It will often have to be "lit." There would be a panel on the front of the heater that provides easy access to light the pilot light. This is not necessary with electric. Gas seems to be "heavier" heat...when it first comes on you can smell the gas. There is a distinct odor so that if you had a leak you would know it. It also must be vented out of the home. So there is a vent pipe on top of a gas heater..and water heater.Central air and heat just means that you have vents that blow heated or cooled air into each room. Gas and electric can both be "central."
Gas stoves have "fire" and electric is a coil or a ceramic (flat glass top) burners.

Answer 2

The easiest way would be to call you local gas company for a free service inspection similar to what southern California gas provides. Next would be ask the landlord or previous occupant. The next easy way would be to locate your gas meter, look at the test dials, then go inside and turn on the heat. Return to the meter and see if the test dials are moving rapidly. This would indicate an increase in gas consumption and you could assume your heat is gas. The flow would decrease again when you turn the heat off. Keep in mind not all gas furnaces have a pilot light, some have spark ignition and some have hot surface (glow coil) ignition.

Answer 3

Easy, if when you click your thermostat over to "heat" and you hear what can only be described as the "roar" of flames coming from your furnace, then you know you have a gas furnace.

Most homes and apartments in the Mid-west run on gas heat, regardless if they have a gas stove.
But in New England and the Atlantic North East (mostly along the entire eastern seaboard), you'll find most homes are heated with Heating Oil.
Some southern states will have propane.

Answer 4

A good utility company will make a courtesy call to inspect your house for safety and also tell you what type of heat you have, and if you can change it if need be. These calls are usually free. The gas company should have technicians available to do repairs, as well. The repairs will be billed to you. Also, in many areas a licensed plumber can do these checks and repairs for you.

Answer 5

Hi there...

Easiest way to check is to look at your heating/air unit. If you see copper piping running to the unit, chances are very good that it's a gas unit. If you get the model number off of the unit, you can also look it up on the manufacturer's website (or you can post it here).

Hope this helps!

Answer 6

i installed heating and air for 12 years...gas is usually run in black iron or silver galvanized pipe...especailly for furnaces. look at your heating unit and see if there is a black or silver pipe with a greyish hose going from the end of it to your unit. this would be a gas situation. (same for your stove...just look behind it.)

Answer 7

Forced Hot Air system? Baseboard system? To many variables left unanswered.

Answer 8

well you have it then!!! click heat and if it starts 2 work then you have it! if not call the a heating and cooling company 2 come fix the problem.

Answer 9

Turn on of the top elements on and put your ear to it anf listen & smell for the gas smell. Don't leave it on for more than a few seconds though.

Answer 10

If you can check your furnace for a pilot light (flame) or you can look in your fuse box and see if there is a furnace breaker