Ignition sources

[Partsman2012]

I've been thinking about ignition sources and gas leaks. My son keeps his old Mustang in the garage and I've got a couple of garden tractors in there. Also a chest freezer. They make risers to get a water heater up off of the floor. Should one endeavor to keep all ignition sources, like the freezer, at least 18 inches off of the floor? I live in rural America, Land of the

 Free, Home of the Brave.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Garden tractors or lawn mowers might be prone to springing leaks in old hoses, or carb floats of gravity feed fuel systems. Might be worth cutting off the fuel shutoffs. Beyond that, I would not worry much, just keep stuff properly maintained and always be vigilant for problems. NEVER leave solvent soaked rags, or heaven forbid, linseed oil soaked rags in the shop, dry them out and get them outside in a trash container. Linseed oil is terrible for spontaneous combustion.

Charles

 

[NUTTSGT]

Personally, I wouldn't worry about vehicles spring a fuel leak. I'd bet you're more likely to get hit by a car while jaywalking.

As for the linseed oil, yeah, that **** is notorious for starting fires. Use with care but use EXTREME CAUTION when dealing with the rags after use.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Raising the water heater won't hurt anything. It actually may help it last longer.
I set mine up on cinder blocks and used plywood to keep the legs from direct contact with concrete.

 

[JonnyMac]

I have a fuel farm at work with at least 300 drums of gasoline inside.
You would think that it would be classed as Class 1 zone 1 hazardous but its not. And the reason is that it has open sides.
Most of the truly scary hazardous areas are fully enclosed as its the fumes, not the liquids that are concerning. Every electrical item in there is explosion proof but a fork lift can still drive I there no problem.
I guess what I'm getting at is you have to considrr the possibility of risk. You would need a leak in a fuel system to coincide with a short or spark occuring in an appliance which is in close proximity to the fuel leak. Very unlikely. I would do something like place a container under each vehicle to capture any fuel that does manage to leak out. Fuel tanks are pretty robust though, I would be inclined to just check all the fuel lines as they are what usually perishes over time...and leave plenty of windows open if possible to circulate any build up of gases..

 

[ChevyEFI]

Since it's the most obvious source of ignition, locate the water heater somewhere other than the garage.

And kick an architect / designer / whomever is responsible for them getting into the garage and taking up space rather than a dedicated closet.

Curiously enough, a lot are mounted in attics in TX.

 

[Scott r c]

Any water heater built in the last approx. 6 years have a sealed combustion chamber. They no longer need to be installed on a stand.

 

[nicksnothereman]

I've been thinking about ignition sources and gas leaks. My son keeps his old Mustang in the garage and I've got a couple of garden tractors in there. Also a chest freezer. They make risers to get a water heater up off of the floor. Should one endeavor to keep all ignition sources, like the freezer, at least 18 inches off of the floor? I live in rural America, Land of the

 Free, Home of the Brave.[/QUOTE]

Usually with gas leaks (unless you're a heavy smoker) anything that will cause the "boom boom" you will be able to smell before it goes boom boom.  But...to prevent any potential disaster maybe have the kid leave the garage door open for 10 minutes after parking his car to either vent any potential fumes or let the car cool down or both.  If he drives it fairly hard (like 99.9% of the mustang owners that don't have lipstick holders) the exhaust should heat up pretty good.  Not that exhaust heat alone will cause ignition but the heat can contribute.  Lot's of crazy stuff can happen.

 

[Partsman2012]

Thanks for all of your input on this. I'm assuming linseed oil is used in woodworking?? I don't have any of that to worry about. I remember vividly the top of my v8 in an old Dart flaming up from a gas leak at the carb. It was inside dad's garage at the time. Gasoline burns pretty darned hot. Silicone plug wires won't stand the heat.
My son always puts the car away hot. The lawn tractors I let cool for a time outdoors.

There's no ventilation to speak of in my metal pole-barn type garage. A man-door and two garage doors. I'll search the board for some ventilation ideas.

 

[JMcFly]

You do have fire extinguishers mounted in easily accessible places?

 

[Partsman2012]

Presently...uh.....no. I need to rectify that deficiency.

 

[yhprum]

I worry more about the vehicles starting an electrical fire that turns into a big fire. I disconnect the batteries on the old stuff when not in use. I know of several fires that started this way.

 

[JakeKohl]

The water heater really should be elevated. It's code here anytime it's installed in a garage. Combustible fumes are typically heavier than air and will settle close to the ground and while it may be a very infrequent occurrence, the severity of the issue, should it happen, is enough that I wouldn't think twice about remounting the water heater on a pedestal.