A homeowner trying to restore gas service faced an unexpected setback after a technician flagged two concerns. Their setup included a gas water heater in the bathroom and a bed stored near the furnace.

Here's what to know

According to the homeowner's Reddit post, the technician wanted a doorway to open into the hallway rather than the bathroom. They told the r/askaplumber community that the gas company technician cited the water heater's bathroom location as the reason for refusing to turn it on.

The homeowner clarified the room near the furnace was sometimes used for sitting, not sleeping. A bed stored there, however, led the technician to conclude that someone slept in the space.

Earlier visits had ended without the same objections, the homeowner said. This time, tags on both appliances meant service could not be restored until the concerns were addressed.

"I've had them turn on with no issues until now," the poster wrote. "Are his claims valid or is he just retaliating cause he had to come to my home outside his regular hours?"

"It is well known that the gas company does everything possible to make sure nobody can ever use a gas appliance," a user responded sarcastically. "They just want to keep all that gas for themselves."

If the homeowner ended up needing a replacement, a heat pump water heater could offer substantial energy savings as part of the upgrade.

More background

In describing the older house's ventilation, the homeowner noted that a hose ran from the top of the water heater through the roof to the outdoors. The Reddit post also mentioned an exhaust fan and vents beneath the bathroom sink.

Multiple vents and two doors served the space around the furnace closet. One of those doors opened into the hallway.

The homeowner suspected the shutdown was retaliation because a manager had sent the technician outside normal working hours. Commenters largely pushed back on that interpretation and noted workers are compensated for working overtime.

"It almost certainly isn't retaliation, the dude showed up so the only thing he cares about is whether or not turning utilities on will cause issues," a user responded. 

What can be done?

The same commenter urged the homeowner to address the flagged conditions.

"You can try and run it up the chain but odds are VERY good you'll have to bring it up to code before they'll turn you on," they wrote.

Checking the appliances' installation history could help the homeowner better understand the situation, commenters suggested.

One asked: "When they were installed, did the city come out and inspect them? Were there permits pulled?" 

Public records offered another route to answers.  A commenter recommended using them to verify permits and inspections for the installations. It was important that they get clarity, as a user suggested they were at the risk of dangerous backdrafting.

For homeowners weighing a water-heater upgrade, Cala offers smart heat pump water heaters. Cala's customizable smart heat pump water heaters can help homeowners decrease their energy bills by heating water exactly when it is needed.

Where can I learn more?

Other homeowners have faced unexpected repairs and questions about code compliance after furnace and water heater safety problems surfaced. 

• In Pennsylvania, technicians flagged a flex gas line despite assurances that the furnace met code.

• A homeowner questioned a water heater line, but plumbers spotted a bigger safety hazard.

• A homeowner seeking boiler quotes discovered a licensed plumber's water heater lacked permits.

• A home inspection flagged a backdrafting water heater, and plumbers warned of potentially expensive repairs.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.