Tiny Explosions In My Kitchen- Not A Gas Leak- Need Answer Fast!

In My Humble Opinion
1

When we were moving boxes into this apartment, we smelled gas in the kitchen. I called the gas company. They sent out workers who confirmed it was a gas leak. They said it was an internal leak in the oven. They shut off the gas to the oven and said I needed a new one.

Earlier today while I was working, I head a loud POP from the kitchen. I saw a bright flash out of the corner of my eye. At the first opportunity, I investigated. I didn’t smell gas. I wasn’t sure what had happened. I thought perhaps it was a bulb burning out.

Later, It happened again. This time I saw it clearly. There was a brief flash of pale orange flame in mid air. There was the same POP noise. I thought it must be a gas leak. I told my supervisor what was going and called the gas company. Their workers came out and said that whatever was going on was not a gas leak. They suggested I call maintenance.

If you missed it, I have given different people in management and maintenance the same list of repairs I needed done since two weeks before I actually started living here. They have not even attempted any of them. When I e-mailed management about the gas leak, I repeated the list of repairs. They said that they did not want to do them now that I was living in the apartment because it would be ‘too intrusive’. They did say they would be happy to replace my oven. Rather than pointing out what a flimsy, self-contradicting lie this was, I just pointed out that if they did not want to intrude on my living space could they please still fix the lock on mailbox? I had asked for that repair since two weeks before I moved in, and it would not involve entering my apartment. There was no response.

Based on my dealings with management, I really don’t want maintenance in my apartment if I can avoid it. Plus while I have made great strides in decluttering, most of my place is piled high with boxes. Should maintenance and management decide this constitutes “extreme hoarding”, they can break my lease and evict me.

So, I turn to the Dope- What the hell is going on to cause they mini fires/explosions? Whar can I do to stop them?

Could it be a flammable gas used as a refrigerant in the fridge is leaking?

Is my apartment built on a nuclear waste site/ old native American burial ground?

I need to know and I need to know right now.

Thanks.

2

Could it be electrical? A bad connection can make a spark.

3

Which floor are you on?
If a ground floor, a gas main could have a very dangerous leak beneath the building.
If the second or higher, somebody lower down could be cooking Meth, leaking to volatile emissions.
My advice–call the Fire Department.

4

Sorry, I am on the second floor.

The actual igniting may be due to a spark. What I saw and heard was almost certainly gas ignitng. So, electricity alone is not the explanation. Also, usually when you have bad wiring and sparks you get the smell of ozone. I haven’t smelled any in my apartment.

5

None of the refrigerants in use for household appliances is highly flammable, and even if they were an appliance leaking enough refrigerant to regularly produce explosions would show progressive difficultly in cooling.

Most old native American burial ground infestations result in some kind of poltergeist or Wendigo encounters based upon my experience with grindhouse films and Down Darker Trails scenarios but they might just be feeling you out. You should check with your local tribal chief about removing the curse.

If you had a gas leak producing explosions I would expect that you could smell it but you might try installing a carbon monoxide detector and seeing if it goes off. Beyond that, I have nothing.

Stranger

6

A pop sounds like something electrical to me.

7

I would like you to weigh very seriously your risk of being evicted vs your risk of dying in a fire. You can recover from only one of those things.

One of the reasons people don’t like mice & rats is that they chew electrical wires.

Good luck & best wishes: I hope it turns out to be minor.

8

Could it be the Aurora Boreolis?

9

I’d ask them to come back out … quickly.

Failing that, I, too, would call the Fire Department … quickly.

Deal with management later. Deal with the potential emergency sooner.

Good luck!

10

The Fire Department sounds like a very good idea. Best of luck, Doc.

11

If you are that concerned about being labeled a hoarder, can you quickly shove some boxes in a bedroom and shut the door?

I agree with the other posters - the fire department is a very good idea.

Also, please keep your neighbors in mind. If there is a fire, everyone in your building will be impacted. And their lives could be at stake as well.

12

No. I have a long hallway, with boxes all along one wall. I have a bedroom. It is filled almost entirely with stacks about four feet tall. The living room and kitchen are box free.

Yeah, it looks that way. Unfortunately, I cannot find a non emergency number to call. As there have been only two fires/explosions so far, I don’t know if this counts as enough of an emergency to call 911.

13

I would think any explosion would constitute an emergency.

14

Meanwhile – despite the weather – can you crack a window (to the exterior) and turn on an exhaust (eg, range hood, bathroom) fan?

It does.

15

The gas shut off valve to the stove may not be sealing shut. Even if gas still leaks in the stove I don’t know what could be igniting it. What kind of igniters does you stove use? Does it wired to an electric line or plugged into an outlet?

16

Again, I called the gas company earlier today. They sent out two workers with equipment. They spent a lot of time inspecting and asking questions. They said it was definitely not a gas leak.

17

Update- I called 911. They transferred me to the fire department emergency number. They will be here shortly.

18

Further Update-

An engine with full crew showed up. I immediately felt embarrassed and guilty. I repeatedly explained that I had wanted to call the non emergency fire number but couldn’t find it. I, and about 7 fire firghters in full gear, went up to my apartment. They found no evidence of fire. They did not know what was causing it. They suggested I call maintenance. I apologized again. They left.

It has not been a good day.

19

Look on the bright side. They could have declared your boxes a fire hazard… :grin:

Things popping that are unexplained would make me nervous too. But I got nothing.

20

Aw shit! Well, you did the right thing.