# Bug bombs and pilot lights

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bug-bombs-and-pilot-lights/218566>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 12, 2003, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bug-bombs-and-pilot-lights/218566 "2003-12-12T10:44:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bug-bombs-and-pilot-lights/218566/1 "2003-12-12T10:44:00Z")

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The instructions on bug bombs (foggers) say to turn off all pilot lights before setting the off. But what is the real danger of leaving the pilots on.

I have a one bedroom apartment with a gas stove and a gas floor furnace. If I shut off the gas to the stove, and covered the vent of the floor furnace and kept the pilot lit, how great would the danger of the fumes igniting be??

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**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bug-bombs-and-pilot-lights/218566/2 "2003-12-12T11:21:02Z")

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The real danger is that the fumes will ignite, isn’t it?. 😕

I imagine if you cover the vent, either  
a) It seals it, no oxygen gets in and the flame goes out  
b) It doesn’t seal it, fumes get in anyhow, and  
c) Opal ends up reading your eulogy.

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**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bug-bombs-and-pilot-lights/218566/3 "2003-12-12T11:34:13Z")

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There’s a reason for the warning on the label:

[http://unclestupid.com/article107.html](http://unclestupid.com/article107.html)

[http://www.sptimes.com/2002/05/21/Hillsborough/Explosion\_raises\_spec.shtml](http://www.sptimes.com/2002/05/21/Hillsborough/Explosion_raises_spec.shtml)

> **[News – NBC Bay Area](https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/)**
>
> Articles from the category: News

This sort of thing happens very regularly. Don’t try to repeat it.