The Gardner Marsh Gas Up - September 2025 Newsletter

Here we go y’all! It’s about time to start ramping up business and hoping for cooler weather. I am probably a little late with this newsletter, but if you haven’t already been getting the pilot light calls yet, they are coming! My question to you is: do you wait for these calls to come in every year, or are you proactive about getting ahead of it? Do you offer any type of maintenance service or plan to keep you busy over the summer?

I highly suggest you consider offering service plans on appliances. We are always looking for ways to stay busy and make money through the summer months. Why not offer a service customers must utilize from April to September? Develop a calling/scheduling program that begins in March to capture this business.

Most appliances require maintenance of some variety you can turn into a package. The way to make it successful is to market it the correct way to the correct audience and make it affordable. I am not saying lose money on it, but look at what you are making (or spending) on your summer month activities already! You aren’t making money painting tanks or re-valving them. These are worthwhile investments, but if you can reallocate some of your labor to a break-even or small profit endeavor, wouldn’t it be worth it? See below for some ideas on what you can do for a few types of appliances.

Log Sets/Burner:

Inspect & clean burn air intake hole. Remove lint or particles with a vacuum or brush	Inspect ODS pilot for operation & accumulation of lint at intake holes
Inspect & Clean all burner ports	Verify flame pattern & log placement for proper operation
Verify smooth & responsive ignition of main burner	Physically remove the logs & burner, take outside for detailed cleaning

Tankless Water Heater:

Check burner flame for proper color & operation	Vacuum dust & debris inside cabinet/burner/blower
Inspect vent system for blockages/debris/damage	Follow flushing procedures
Clean the water filter	Test the pressure relief valve manually

Vented Heater:

Check burner flame & pilot flame characteristics	Remove & clean main burner
Remove & clean main burner orifice	Remove &clean the combustion chamber making sure to apply air pressure to the inside to clear all passageways
Oil the blower motor	Check for proper flame operation

These are just a few ideas. You can offer services for any gas appliance, they all have recommended maintenance. Another idea would be winterizing services for pool heaters and vacation home water heaters, or the entire gas system. These programs can be a headache to deal with, but they can make you a value-added marketer and they drive customer loyalty.

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