# Tiny Explosions In My Kitchen- Not A Gas Leak- Need Answer Fast! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 6, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647 "2025-01-06T17:55:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/41 "2025-01-06T21:58:24Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > I have seen a notice on a UK refrigerator which says it uses cyclopentane. Wikipedia says this: > While cyclopentane is not typically used as a [refrigerant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerant), it is common for domestic appliances that are insulated with cyclopentane-based foam, such as [refrigerators](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerator) and [freezers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freezer), to be marked with cyclopentane warning labels due to its flammability. Not sure about the rate of diffusion through the foam. My intuition is that it would be replaced with air in a matter of months, but that’s purely a guess and depends on the composition of the foam. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/42 "2025-01-06T22:06:41Z")
I feel confident predicting (but am willing to argue!) that they are not gas explosions caused by ignited pockets of natural gas, propane, gasoline, insulation outgassing, butane, etc. That leaves likely fireworks, firearms, possibly dust or lint. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/43 "2025-01-06T22:08:01Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > it is common for domestic appliances that are insulated with cyclopentane-based foam, such as [refrigerators](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerator) and [freezers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freezer), to be marked with cyclopentane warning labels due to its flammability. You could well be right. This was something I just happened to notice while I was cooling my heels in a gift shop while my wife pored over trinkets and tchotchkes (sound familiar)? Sorry, this is quite off topic from the OP question… I don’t have any good hypotheses about that… ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/44 "2025-01-06T22:11:42Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > That leaves likely fireworks, firearms, possibly dust or lint. That does open up [some intriguing possibilities](https://youtu.be/HIMvB-LsHo0?si=hImBvDWNw8bE2dbg). Stranger ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/45 "2025-01-06T22:15:11Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > That leaves likely fireworks, firearms, possibly dust or lint Somewhere in my apartment, if the lousy movers didn’t toss that too, should be a small metal sarcophagus containing flash paper. I also have a small plastic cannister filled with flash powder. I am not sure where they are. But, I know they are not in my kitchen. I do not own any firearms or ammunition. Dust and lint remain a possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/46 "2025-01-06T22:28:33Z")
Any pest control going on? Are you spraying stuff? That stuff is flammable. Maybe explosive. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/47 "2025-01-06T22:32:48Z")
The only pest control is a snap trap I put out. I have not been spraying anything. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/48 "2025-01-06T22:38:31Z")
I wouldn’t replace the stove without calling an appliance repair shop. Gas ovens are pretty simple. It’s probably a bad gas valve. Each burner should have a valve. The oven has a separate valve. Modern appliances have electronic controls. But a bad part can be replaced. You need a plumber to do a leak test. They pressurize the gas pipes and install a gauge. It has to hold that pressure for a certain amount of time. Then the gas company will turn the meter back on. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/49 "2025-01-06T22:44:02Z")
I am not replacing the stove. At some point soon, I hope to have decluttered enough to safely have maintenance in my apartment. _They_ will replace the stove. I will not be paying for a new stove or providing any of the labor. Back To The OP I want chocolate badly. Normally, I would just walk a few blocks to my favorite of the mini marts and buy some. At presnt, I am terrified that once I leave home there will be another whatever the hell that was. The smoke detector seems to be working. I am confident that no tenants will be harmed and no structural damage will be done. However, loss of my stuff is my second greatest fear. Loss of a loved one is my first. My death or dismemberment are a distant third. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/50 "2025-01-06T22:44:08Z")
This is probably unanswerable, without further data. I know what I would do, I’d shit can that stove. Call them tell them come get it. Call the gas company tell them turn the gas off to your apartment. Your very life may depend on it. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/51 "2025-01-06T22:46:58Z")
The gas to the stove has been turned off since around the time I started living here. The three radiators providing heat are apparently electric. Plus, the gas company sent out two workers today. They could not find a gas leak. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/52 "2025-01-06T22:47:02Z")
Definitely buy a CO detector. Anyone with gas heat or appliances needs one. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/53 "2025-01-06T22:47:39Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > 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. > [@DocCathode](#): > > 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. I can’t speak to specific equipment used by PGW or PFD but the two departments could have had the exact same meter or PFD could have had one that will ‘sniff’ for even more things than PGW’s since they are concerned with more things than just natural gas. Although they are calibrated & do self-checks when turned on a meter could break; however, the chance of two meters, from two different agencies not picking up gas means there’s no gas there. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Don’t sweat it. They send who they send, whether you call the non-emergency line or 911. In my town they tell you to call 911 for gas smells or CO detectors going off. I know for a fact that the non-emergency line goes to the 911 dispatch center, they just know they can ignore that phone if otherwise occupied. > > They come on a truck because that’s their vehicle. They get dressed because that’s their protocol. They come as a team because that’s their protocol. > > The fire department doesn’t want to have to come fight a fire in an apartment building. They are always happy to do fire prevention when they can. You did nothing wrong and they won’t be judging you for it. This! There are not emergency cops & non-emergency cops, there are just cops. They respond to calls in (ranked) order; obviously a shooting takes place over a barking dog but a barking dog vs a parking complaint should be handled in the order they were received. PSAPs (911 call centers) realize this & anymore, whether you call a 10-digit local # or 911 you’re going to be talking to the exact same person; they’ll get all your who, what, where info, enter it into the computer, code it & hand it off to dispatch. The same is true with the FD, there is only one FD & they respond to all calls ASAP. Yes, a lot of the “smells & bells” (odors & alarms) are BS but the FD should respond to each one as if it were real because some of them are. I know that Philly doesn’t even have a non-emergency # anymore; you have a dog complaint or an illegally parked car, dial 911. It saves them a little on having a second phone line. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/54 "2025-01-06T22:49:47Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Does your refrigerator still work? I am so, _sooo_ disappointed in you! You totally blew it! > [@DocCathode](#): > > First, I think my fridge is still running. Better go catch it! 😆 ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/55 "2025-01-06T22:49:53Z")
I am reasonably sure that the smoke allarm in my apartment detects carbon monoxide. I know the one in the apartment next door does. Her kids set it off by forgetting to take the pots and pans out of their stove before pre heating it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/56 "2025-01-06T22:57:08Z")
Turned off or unhooked from the gas line? The line itself could be leaking. Maybe intermittently. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/57 "2025-01-06T23:00:11Z")
They said they shut off the gas to the stove. If there was any leak, I think the team that came out today would have found it. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/58 "2025-01-06T23:11:43Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > That leaves likely fireworks, firearms, possibly dust or lint. Or, as I mentioned earlier, the Aurora Borealis. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Es2GIhjcSLQ/hqdefault.jpg "The Simpsons - Aurora Borealis") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es2GIhjcSLQ) ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/59 "2025-01-06T23:15:33Z")
If you have natural gas piped into your living quarters and appliances, that is just about the only possible source of these little explosions, a gas leak. May just normally dissapate and cannot be smelt by you or the inspectors until it finds a spark. Whoever checked and said it was not a leak is either incompetant or ignoring a problem. They need to look again, **and replace that damn oven. .** Little explosions do don’t just happen without a cause, but what they DO cause is bigger explosions. Do not back down and look for other causes, it’s the gas and somebody does not want to address it. This is kind of one of those “may cause death” things, for you and other residents in the building. Replace the damn oven. Either that or Ball Lightning. Which do you think is most likely? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/60 "2025-01-06T23:55:29Z")
I realize you don’t want to spend the money, but it might be worth your peace of mind to bring in a plumber to disconnect the stove completely and cap off the gas lines. Plumbers are very experienced at this sort of thing, and I would generally trust one to get this right, without allowing any leakage at all at the gas line caps. You could leave the stove in place until you are ready to have maintenance come in and replace it. Not that I’m agreeing that the gas company inspectors and the fire department are all slackers who are too lazy to find a gas leak. But I can imagine a transient leak that just happened to not be active when they were there. If that’s what is going on, it may not be dangerous now, but it could grow and become so. I have no qualifications in this area beyond being a homeowner who has a gas stove and other gas appliances. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647.md?page=4)