Gas leak explodes house near me...and a PSA

[zachnsamsmommy]

This is the local link...

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/dec/09/120909webexplosion/

Basically, a gas leak caused a $1 million home to be blown to pieces, throwing the husband and wife from their bed to the neighbors yard. They miraculously survived without life threatening injuries. Their teenage son, presumed in the basement, has not been found.

I guess I am also posting this as a PSA. If you have gas heat or utilities, be sure to check occassionally for leaks. This includes the fireplace, stove, gas dryer, and gas water heater. Apparently, it was a leaky gas fireplace presumed to cause the explosion.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

We just invested in a CO detector that also detect gas ...well worth the $50 spent.

 

[C.Ann]

DD's DH is friends with a guy whose grandparents died that way.. So tragic..

Any word on if they found the son? It's an absolute MIRACLE that the parents weren't killed!

 

[DMickey28]

We just invested in a CO detector that also detect gas ...well worth the $50 spent.

Is there anything else that we can do to protect ourselves? We just bought a house that has a gas burning stove in the family room and a gas oven/stove top in the kitchen. This is a huge fear of mine.

 

[C.Ann]

Is there anything else that we can do to protect ourselves? We just bought a house that has a gas burning stove in the family room and a gas oven/stove top in the kitchen. This is a huge fear of mine.

Make sure you have sufficient CO detectors for your home.. Have everything checked and maintainence done on a regular basis (per instructions for the items you have)..

One VERY important thing to remember.. If you ever detect the odor of gas in your home DO NOT use your cell phone or "flick" on switches to anything in your home.. Go outside and call the fire dept. in your area and tell them you can smell gas.. Also call your provider and inform them of the same..

DD had a gas leak in her old house a number of years ago and due to what happened to her DH's friends grandparents, she knew enough to just take the baby (my DGD), grab her cell phone, and go OUTSIDE to make the call - without touching anything else.. The fire dept. came - as did a rep from the gas co. - and they told her she did exactly the right thing.. There was in fact a leak, but luckily the repair was quick and easy..

 

[DMickey28]

Thanks C. Ann. We had a gas leak in a house we were renting a few years ago but it was outside. I could smell it when I would let the dog out. I called the gas company and they came out that night and found it.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Remember CO is colorless and odorless so you need to buy a CO detector! Preferably one that you plug in that way you don't have to worry about changing batteries.
Natural gas smells like rotten eggs. Should you ever smell gas in your home call your gas company ASAP even if it is 2:00 a.m. they always have someone on call - I know I use to work at the gas company in the call center. When someone called in an odor of gas we had to respond within 60 minutes of getting a call.

The reason a building explodes that the gas builds up and the simplest thing such as flipping a switch to turn on a light can generate enough of a spark to ignite the gas. So if you smell gas or thing you smell gas call the gas company.

 

[robinb]

So sad! The story said that the gar fireplace had just been serviced the week before but that was what caused the house to blow up. It sounds like someone didn't do a very good job.

A house blew up here in Madison a few years ago and killed the people inside. IIRC, it was the fault of the gas company. There was some construction and they didn't turn the gas off properly. One of my DD's classmates was a neighbor and they had to live somewhere else for months while their house was repaired. The house that blew up also knocked their house off it's foundation!

DMickey28, this kind of thing does not happen very frequently. I have a gas stove, a gas boiler (furnace), a gas water heater and a gas dryer and I don't worry a bit. You can google what to do in case of a gas leak. Most are minor (like a pilot light that went out) and all you need to do it air the house and relight the pilot light. ETA: Of course if the odor is strong you should get out like others have said. All my "leaks" have been from pilot lights.

 

[C.Ann]

Thanks C. Ann. We had a gas leak in a house we were renting a few years ago but it was outside. I could smell it when I would let the dog out. I called the gas company and they came out that night and found it.

Remember CO is colorless and odorless so you need to buy a CO detector! Preferably one that you plug in that way you don't have to worry about changing batteries.
Natural gas smells like rotten eggs. Should you ever smell gas in your home call your gas company ASAP even if it is 2:00 a.m. they always have someone on call - I know I use to work at the gas company in the call center. When someone called in an odor of gas we had to respond within 60 minutes of getting a call.

The reason a building explodes that the gas builds up and the simplest thing such as flipping a switch to turn on a light can generate enough of a spark to ignite the gas. So if you smell gas or thing you smell gas call the gas company.

You're welcome.. Most importantly, GET OUT OF THE HOUSE and then make the calls!

 

[nutterbutter2010]

That happened here once - guys were doing work out on the highway, hit a gas line, and all of the sudden PetSmart BLEW UP!


BTW - Whats a PSA???

 

[a1tinkfans]

SO sad, appears they lost their son to this tragedy! so so sad!

 

[Metsfan520]

That happened here once - guys were doing work out on the highway, hit a gas line, and all of the sudden PetSmart BLEW UP!


BTW - Whats a PSA???

Public Service Annoucement

 

[TIAMOMMA]

That happened here once - guys were doing work out on the highway, hit a gas line, and all of the sudden PetSmart BLEW UP!


BTW - Whats a PSA???

Public Service Announcement...

 

[itsheresomewhere]

We just invested in a CO detector that also detect gas ...well worth the $50 spent.

Just FYI, if it is the kiddie brand it is known to have lots of false alarms, just ask the nice firemen at 3 am in the morning. Also, doggie farts set it off.

 

[live4christp1]

Praying for this family during this time.

This happened to a friend from church back in June. She, along with her daughter are still recovering....daughter is still in compession bandages. She lost her son due to injuries sustained in the explosion.


Many years ago my mom worked at Super 8 and the gas company had been in to do some work the day before. Next day while they were getting ready for their shift the building exploded. There were several people in different locations that received extensive burns. Some gas had escaped into the walls and then something ignited it and the different pockets of gas exploded and shot out fireballs in some of the rooms.

Very scary.

 

[TN Hockey Mom]

Sadly, they have found the body of the 18 year old son.

One of the doctors I work for lives about a mile from where this happenned and he said it woke him up this morning. At first he thought it was thunder but then realized the moon was shining brightly and the rain from earlier had stopped, therefore, he assumed it wasn't. He noticed that whatever it was had rattled all of his plantation shutters on his windows.

The daughter and a friend had planned on staying at the house overnight, but luckily changed there minds.

I'm sure there will be a lawsuit against the company that had just been out servicing the fireplace.

My thoughts and prayers are with this family!

 

[luvmy3]

Oh that is awful. My heart and thoughts go out to the family of that boy.

 

[C.Ann]

Sadly, they have found the body of the 18 year old son.

One of the doctors I work for lives about a mile from where this happenned and he said it woke him up this morning. At first he thought it was thunder but then realized the moon was shining brightly and the rain from earlier had stopped, therefore, he assumed it wasn't. He noticed that whatever it was had rattled all of his plantation shutters on his windows.

The daughter and a friend had planned on staying at the house overnight, but luckily changed there minds.

I'm sure there will be a lawsuit against the company that had just been out servicing the fireplace.

My thoughts and prayers are with this family!

 

[golfgal]

Remember CO is colorless and odorless so you need to buy a CO detector! Preferably one that you plug in that way you don't have to worry about changing batteries.
Natural gas smells like rotten eggs. Should you ever smell gas in your home call your gas company ASAP even if it is 2:00 a.m. they always have someone on call - I know I use to work at the gas company in the call center. When someone called in an odor of gas we had to respond within 60 minutes of getting a call.

The reason a building explodes that the gas builds up and the simplest thing such as flipping a switch to turn on a light can generate enough of a spark to ignite the gas. So if you smell gas or thing you smell gas call the gas company.

Just an FYI, natural gas is also odorless, the gas company ADDS the sulfur smell to help detect leaks.

 

[manning]

Here is one thing you can do to increase safety. Many homes have gas appliances that were installed years ago. There is a gas shut off valve in the line known as a gas ****. You use this to shhut off the flow of gas to the appliance while you change it out.

The old type is packed with grease that is used as a seal. The newer ones that don't use grease are much safer. I don't think the old ones are made anymore.

I was in the basement one day and walked past the water heater and got a whiff of gas. The leak was at the old type valve. I replaced it PDQ.