Removing these small insects is fairly simple and requires only periodic observation and cleaning.
Things You Will Need
Home
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Walk around the home and locate the gas line. Follow the line entering the home from the gas meter outside, if you are unsure as to the line location. Look closely at the hole that surrounds the gas line. Insects like spiders can enter the house through any tiny gap around the gas line.
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Wipe cobwebs and debris away with a damp cloth. Insert pipe cleaners through the hole in hard-to-reach areas. Twist the pipe cleaners back and forth, to clean the area of any cobwebs.
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Blow compressed air into the hole. Rinse the outer area with the garden hose.
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Caulk the crevice with a caulking gun, to seal off the area. This way, spiders or insects cannot get in.
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Go inside your home, and locate the spot where the gas line enters. Clean the area with a damp cloth. Seal any crevices using a spray foam sealer.
Hot Water Heater
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Check your gas water heater to make sure spiders have not made their home in the ignitor area. This is common when the gas water heater is turned off for long periods of time. Turn off the gas going to the hot water heater, and turn the pilot valve to "Off."
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Clean the shield area where the gas line goes into the hot water tank. Use a pipe cleaner to clean this small opening.
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Open the hot water heater compartment door latch, and swipe the ignitor area with the pipe cleaner. Blow compressed air into the area. Wait for the hot water heater ignitor area to dry for about 10 minutes before relighting the pilot light.
Gas Grill
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Turn off the gas going to the grill, and make sure it is completely cool to the touch before cleaning. Ensure that all knobs are in the “Off” position.
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Unfasten the gas hoses that run to the burners. Disconnect the gas connection from the back of the grill using pliers.
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Insert a pipe cleaner throught the gas hose connection going to the burner on the gas grill. Once the pipe cleaner is filled with cobwebs, insert another pipe cleaner to continue cleaning. Twist the pipe cleaner back and forth to get the connection and pipe clean.
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Pull the venturi tubes beneath the grill burners free from the valve stems on the back of the grill, with your fingers.
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Clean these tubes with the pipe cleaners, and pull out any cobwebs from the tubes.
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Blow compressed air into all the tubes, to remove any remaining cobwebs.
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Replace the tubes and the gas hoses, using the pliers.
The Drip Cap
- Spiders notoriously affect both indoor and outdoor gas lines.
- Removing these small insects is fairly simple and requires only periodic observation and cleaning.
- Follow the line entering the home from the gas meter outside, if you are unsure as to the line location.
- Blow compressed air into the hole.
- This is common when the gas water heater is turned off for long periods of time.
- Once the pipe cleaner is filled with cobwebs, insert another pipe cleaner to continue cleaning.
- Blow compressed air into all the tubes, to remove any remaining cobwebs.