PSA - Plug that unused gas valve!

[HoosierBuddy]

A few months ago there was a home explosion in Evansville Indiana. Three people died in the explosion. 5 homes were completely destroyed and many other homes damaged.

At the time, every agency imaginable responded. FBI. PHMSA. ATF. DHS. looking for the cause.

Last week the state fire marshal issued a verdict that the explosion was caused by gas valve that was opened in the basement of a home and had been blowing gas into the home at a high rate for about 2 days before an unknown ignition source touched off the gas explosively.

No word on how the residents didn't notice the hissing or smell...but that's speculation for another day.

So...the PSA thing. It is completely unsafe to ever leave a closed gas valve in a position where simply opening the valve would cause gas to blow freely into a home. Seems pretty obvious, but this happens more than you'd think. Someone changes from a gas stove to an electric stove....they shut that appliance valve, disconnect the gas stove, install the electric and leave the existing (closed) gas valve there with no plug in it. Same thing on water heaters.

It's dangerous. Keep an eye open for that situation all! Takes about 1 minute to put a dab of pipe sealant on a 3/4" NPT plug or 1/2" NPT plug and thread it into the outlet of the valve. That's all that's needed really.

 

[readhead]

When I was in the remodeling business I would remove the valve and cap the pipe to eliminate the possibility of the valve leaking.

 

[CoogarXR]

The last house I bought had the kitchen gas pipe left like that. Just a valve, no cap. Funny thing is, they had an electric stove. So I wonder how long it had been like that. When the gas guy came to turn on the service, he took the valve off and capped the line.

 

[dcg9381]

I modified some gas plumbing, adding ventless heaters as backup heat source in the event like an extended power-outage. I keep the heaters in the shop most of the year. I basically "T" off the existing 3/4 lines and added a gas valve. I made sure every gas valve had a brass cap... So even if you leave it on, you're not going to blow the place up.

 

[Jim greengo]

That's another reason I hate gas stoves,not a fan of gas dryers either.

 

[Walkers]

When I was working at the gas company, I couldn’t count the amount of dryer and stove stubs that I put a plug in. There were houses built in the 30s and 40s downtown that still had hose barbs with a valve for heaters that just had a rubber hose going to them. The heaters were long gone, but every once and a while you would find a valve with a hose barb behind the drapes, or some hidden place.
Every year we would do pressure tests at schools during the summer. Every year we would find and repair minor leaks. But residences can go decades without any tests or service, until someone finally smells it and calls. We would hear ‘Oh yeah, we’ve been smelling that for a long time…’ Scary!

 

[HoosierBuddy]

That's another reason I hate gas stoves,not a fan of gas dryers either.

Stoves or at least range tops are best matched up to the cook’s choice. I had to convert my wife from “cooking with a wire” to “cooking with fire” and in retrospect…it was a big risk for little return. (A risk to matrimony, I mean.). However, she loved the switch to a gas drier because it’s so much faster.

 

[Blueshound_GJ]

That's another reason I hate gas stoves,not a fan of gas dryers either.

Agree. I had gas in a couple of rentals, never could get comfortable with it. Then a few years ago a utility outside Boston over-pressurized the gas pipes and burned up a bunch of houses. When we shopped for houses a few years ago, natural gas was an instant "no". Intellectually I know it's pretty safe, but it's not for me.

 

[PoorUB]

That's another reason I hate gas stoves,not a fan of gas dryers either.

If you do stupid **** with electric it will burn your house down too. You are more likely to have a house fire from electrical than gas, look it up!

About 99% of the fires and explosions from gas are from someone without a clue messing with the gas supply or the appliance.

 

[mike93lx]

That's another reason I hate gas stoves,not a fan of gas dryers either.

I've come off my love for gas stoves due to the horrendous indoor air quality issues they create. Plus induction is faster anyway.

Electric for dryer is my preference as well. Faster is not needed...I dry slow and low as it's more gentle on clothes

Regarding the OP, when I lived in MA, they required a gas fitter to do anything. You couldn't even legally hookup your own stove. I think it may be slightly overboard, but we'd be better off if more people had respect for the gas feeds going into their houses

 

[rlitman]

...Then a few years ago a utility outside Boston over-pressurized the gas pipes and burned up a bunch of houses...

That was a dark day for the gas industry, but you need to understand that the affected neighborhood was a VERY old and no longer accepted type of install. The houses had no regulators, and meters inside. When the street was overpressurized, the gas blew right past boiler valves only designed for a few PSI,

Modern gas installations have a vented regulator outdoors, with the meter outdoors too. An overpressurized street would just stop at the regulator, and a blown regulator would just vent safely outdoors. They're actually less likely to cause a house fire than an oil system.

 

[Walkers]

Agree. I had gas in a couple of rentals, never could get comfortable with it. Then a few years ago a utility outside Boston over-pressurized the gas pipes and burned up a bunch of houses. When we shopped for houses a few years ago, natural gas was an instant "no". Intellectually I know it's pretty safe, but it's not for me.

I had a friend that worked for the gas company in DC. They dug up a section of tarred wood gas main in their low pressure system. Yikes! (This was probably 30 years ago now).

 

[Jim greengo]

If you do stupid **** with electric it will burn your house down too. You are more likely to have a house fire from electrical than gas, look it up!

About 99% of the fires and explosions from gas are from someone without a clue messing with the gas supply or the appliance.

Yeah,but I've never seen a house blown off the foundation by somebody bumping a knob and leaving the gas on though.
Nothing in life is fool proof by any means.

 

[beemerphile]

...You are more likely to have a house fire from electrical than gas, look it up!

I remember reading a news blurb once about a historic building Virginia that burned to the ground and the news reported that "the cause of the fire could not be determined because the building wasn't wired."

Well, if it had been, I think I know how the cause of the fire would have been reported.

 

[PoorUB]

Nothing in life is fool proof by any means.

There explains the problem.

 

[gmcgeo]

The past 15 years in the gas industry, i have seen 100s of places where lowes and homedepot removed a gas appliance and would cut the copper and or black iron with a hack saw and put in an electric range or dryer. then we would get a call that the customer smells gas and does not know why...... go to the basement to find the line cut and gas running out.

Those are the people that needs to be working at the counter of a McDonalds

 

[Jim greengo]

If you do stupid **** with electric it will burn your house down too. You are more likely to have a house fire from electrical than gas, look it up!

About 99% of the fires and explosions from gas are from someone without a clue messing with the gas supply or the appliance.

It's a lot easier to escape a fire than an explosion.
I have a better chance of putting out an electrical fire with a fire extinguisher,a gas explosion on the other hand.
Not so much.
Just my experiance ,for what it's worth anyway. Hahaha

 

[gmcgeo]

It's a lot easier to escape a fire than an explosion.
I have a better chance of putting out an electrical fire with a fire extinguisher,a gas explosion on the other hand.
Not so much.
Just my experiance ,for what it's worth anyway. Hahaha

At least you would smell the gas before the explosion.

 

[Jim greengo]

If you do stupid **** with electric it will burn your house down too. You are more likely to have a house fire from electrical than gas, look it up!

About 99% of the fires and explosions from gas are from someone without a clue messing with the gas supply or the appliance.

It's a lot easier to escape a fire than an explosion.
I have a better chance of putting out an electrical fire with a fire extinguisher,a gas explosion on the other hand.
Not so much
Just my experiance ,for what it's worth anyway. Hahaha

At least you would smell the gas before the explosion.

If you're lucky,but not always the case.

 

[Skellyii]

Just bought a house a couple of months ago. The kitchen and entire first floor had been remodeled.

When I first toured the house, the washer and dryer(gas) were in the laundry room. After I took possession of the house, for some reason, they were sitting in the garage. I immediately capped the gas line, I had a nice electric dryer, so I donated the old stuff to a local charity.

When my girlfriend was unpacking the pots and pans, she opened the drawer under the newly installed cooktop, and there was a distinctive gas odor. I shutoff the gas, and called a plumber that was covered under the home warranty.

Whoever had installed the cooktop never tightened the regulator, so gas was freely leaking out.

I don't mess with gas issues, a former coworker was awakened one night by his wife who thought she smelled gas. He got up and was walking down the hall when the house blew up. Fortunately, he and his wife and children only sustained minor injuries. The house was flattened.

 

[Death Row Dave]

Many may thing a closed valve is leak proof seal . I worked in the NG / LPG industry for 35 years , a few words of advice never bet your family or your life on a closed valve . 95% are not leak free . ALWAYS PLUG the source and soap test the joint before giving it all is OK , neat tighty , and gas tight .

 

[Walkers]

There explains the problem.

They just keep improving the fools is the real problem!

 

[Walkers]

Yeah,but I've never seen a house blown off the foundation by somebody bumping a knob and leaving the gas on though.
Nothing in life is fool proof by any means.

I responded for a fire investigation one night. A woman was packing for a camping trip and decided to test out a propane lantern. She cross threaded the LPG bottle and it started hissing. She couldn’t get it off so started running for the back door carrying said bottle. The back door, where the laundry room and water heater were, was locked. She got scared and dropped the bottle and ran out the front door. The water heater pilot ignited the propane. It blew the laundry room walls off of the slab. They were literally, all 3 walls canted and sitting a foot away from where they were bolted to the slab!

 

[engineer2]

Don't forget gas grills for thrills. Years ago saw the LP bottle connection on a neighbor's gas grill shooting flames out. It think he cross-threaded it or left the fitting loose. He was throwing cups of water at it to no avail. I ran over with my CO2 fire extinguisher and put it out in a second. He was very thankful.

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

Last house I sold, we moved out in early June and the new owners weren't going to arrive until sometime in August. I called the gas company out and had them valve off the whole house at the meter and place their lock on it. When I explained the nature of my request, they were totally good with it. Better safe than sorry. Who know what goes on in a house sat vacant for two months.

 

[like2wheel]

What about gas log lighters in wood fireplaces?
Unless I'm missing something, it seems like just a valve in the floor, that runs gas to a burner at the log grate.

When I built my house, the plumber suggested one. It seemed sketchy to me, so I declined.

 

[Sumboodie]

Just bought a house a couple of months ago. The kitchen and entire first floor had been remodeled.

When I first toured the house, the washer and dryer(gas) were in the laundry room. After I took possession of the house, for some reason, they were sitting in the garage. I immediately capped the gas line, I had a nice electric dryer, so I donated the old stuff to a local charity.

When my girlfriend was unpacking the pots and pans, she opened the drawer under the newly installed cooktop, and there was a distinctive gas odor. I shutoff the gas, and called a plumber that was covered under the home warranty.

Whoever had installed the cooktop never tightened the regulator, so gas was freely leaking out.

I don't mess with gas issues, a former coworker was awakened one night by his wife who thought she smelled gas. He got up and was walking down the hall when the house blew up. Fortunately, he and his wife and children only sustained minor injuries. The house was flattened.

Regulator?

Those are normally outside.

 

[Jim greengo]

Regulator?

Those are normally outside.

They're installed at each appliance in some places on high pressure systems.

 

[Sumboodie]

They're installed at each appliance in some places on high pressure systems.

With vent line to outside i hope!

 

[gmcgeo]

With vent line to outside i hope!

Maxitrols are not vented to the outside. and that is what is used for the most part for 2lb systems

 

[Jim greengo]

With vent line to outside i hope!

Not normally.

 

[engineer2]

What about gas log lighters in wood fireplaces?

Most of those are standing pilot millivolt systems. The gas valve has safety features built in to prevent gas flow if there is an issue with either the thermocouple or the thermopile.
Not enough thermocouple voltage? The pilot light will turn off.
Not enough thermopile voltage? The main burner valve won't open.

I have seen some conversions with just a gas pipe, valve and burner. I don't like those.
You can shut the gas supply valve to turn it off. Any minor leakage will hopefully go up the flue.

 

[PoorUB]

Yes there are log lighters that freak me out! Just a dante valve, ( a valve the uses a large key for handle), and a pipe with some holes or slots. To start a fire you stack your logs, toss in a burning piece of paper or some other source of fire, then open the valve. It should light and run it long enough to get the logs going, then manualy close the valve.

These bug me because they have zero safety controls. You can open the valve at any time and nothing to make sure it lights. Yes, hopefully the gas goes up the chimney, but there is nothing to ensure that happens. You have pretty much an open gas line spewing gas into the fireplace.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I did a service call on an electric dryer in a house with 6 and 8 year old boys. The dryer was in semi finished basement that was set up for the children to play in. About 5 feet from the current dryer location was gas line with just a red gas cutoff valve, no cap. Nothing to prevent the kids from turning it. I warned the customer and she had never noticed it before. But said she would call the plumber immediately.

 

[hmbemis]

After I took possession of the house, for some reason, they were sitting in the garage. I immediately capped the gas line,

I sold a house in the early 2000's and was extremely annoyed that one of the requirements of the buyer was to hire a gas fitter to remove the gas dryer, cap the line, provide a receipt for the work, and pull a permit w/ the town... I called a few places and most were willing to do the work, but not pull a permit for it. Finally found one that I assume gave me the FU price of $275 for the job, $50 of which was the permit fee. The guy is in/out in literally 5 mins and asks for the check for $275, which I give him... he leaves and I take a look at the work -- no cap -- so I run out to the van and tell him the job was to cap it... he starts arguing with me that I don't need the cap, he doesn't have a cap on the truck, etc, etc... I think he realizes he's not going to bully me out of it so he "finds" a cap and installs it... has the nerve to then say I have to re-write the check because the bill is now $284 -- $9 for the cap.

20 years later I was buying a house and had the reverse -- the owners were taking their appliances and I found the gas line for the dryer was disconnected at the wall, no cap, and one of those 40 year old square-head valves w/ no stop which turn freely forever and you have to line up the marks to indicate closed... Fortunately they left the 4" dryer vent hole in the wall so I had plenty of fresh air -- they literally took the louvers from the outside too so it was a 4" round hole through the drywall to the outside... I guess I should have insisted on a permitted removal

 

[rooster59]

Fortunately they left the 4" dryer vent hole -- they literally took the louvers from the outside too so it was a 4" round hole through the drywall to the outside... I guess I should have insisted on a permitted removal

Good one. And I thought taking all the lightbulbs put people on an episode of Extreme Cheapskates.

 

[Bucko]

Not a life or death like a gas line but was once told something similar is caps for washing machine valves when you sell your house and the washer has been removed, even more important if the house is on the market. If the valve leaks or a kid decides to mess with it the $1 caps can save you from a big headache and also shows the insurance company if needed that you did all you could to avoid a leak.
They are also handy to have on hand if you have a leaky hose bib or live in an area with lizards as they like to hide out in the hoses and then you throw on a nozzle only to have mashed up lizard blocking the flow. Since many hoses and nozzles have dissimilar metals they corrode together if left on the plastic caps wont.