# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/61 "2025-01-07T00:03:22Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > that is just about the only possible source of these little explosions, a gas leak. It’s been cleared by TWO gas company inspectors and the fire department. If there are explosions, gas is about all I can rule out. ---
**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 7, 2025, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/62 "2025-01-07T00:21:22Z")
Thank you, I had been trying to think of a polite way to say that. With the first leak, there was a strong smell and no fires or explosions. If this is a second gas leak, there is no smell and at least two whatever the hell they were. I find this unlikely to start with. Add in that two teams certified that there was no leak when they left and I think we should consider other possibilities. RE A Plumber I would have to double check, but I think that is forbidden by my lease. It states that if I just go ahead and make repairs or pay some one to make repairs without both alerting maintenance to the problem and giving maintenance reasonable time to fix it, I am in violation of my lease. I believe the gas shut off by PGW falls under an emergency situation not covered by these terms. But, if I hired some one to work on the gas line when there is no emergency, I would be in violation of my lease. ---
**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 7, 2025, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/63 "2025-01-07T00:36:29Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Thank you, I had been trying to think of a polite way to say that. You have stated that you declined the offer of a new oven. Replacing the oven may cure the problem, or they may find the cause when they replace it. But you don’t want maintenace people in your appartment. Good luck on your explosions. There seem to be other issues at work here. I am done with advice. ---
**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 7, 2025, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/64 "2025-01-07T00:48:08Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > You have stated that you declined the offer of a new oven. Not quitte. I mentioned the leak to them, They said they would replace it. I said ‘Great! What about the other repairs I asked for?’. They said ‘Those would be too intrusive. We can replace the oven though’ I said ‘Okay. If being too intrusive is the problem, can you replace the oven and fix my mailbox lock?’. They never responded. Neither management nor maintenance ever contacted me regarding just when they would replace the oven. ETA > [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Replacing the oven may cure the problem, or they may find the cause when they replace it. The workers who found the first gas leak and shut off the gas to the oven said it was an internal leak. The oven needs to be replaced. There has not been any gas going to the oven since October or so. Replacing the oven will only solve the problem of not being able to bake in the oven or cook on the stove top. I very very rarely use the oven or stove top. So this is not a priority for me. ---
**Author:** ![Beesnest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@Beesnest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beesnest)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/65 "2025-01-07T00:52:41Z")
Is there anything in your boxes that could be releasing gasses or powders that could be causing this? Find the hobbyist things you spoke about and secure them. There could be a gas leak elsewhere in the building too. There was a horrible fire a couple years age in a complex that was caused by a gas leak in maintenance room. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/66 "2025-01-07T01:01:32Z")
I second calling the fire department. ---
**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 7, 2025, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/67 "2025-01-07T01:02:02Z")
I had a friend install the window ac unit in the bedroom before we started moving boxes in. Flash paper is mostly harmless. I was told, and I believe, that one aspiring magician put flash paper in his glove compartment and forgot about it. During the summer, it got ot enough in the car to ignite the flash paper. The resulting small fire did some damage to the glove compartment and incinerated his maps, registration and insurance papers. My flash paper should be safe.I keep it in a little sealed brass sarcophagus. I hope any fired would be contained there and quickly burn itself out. I do not know what woud happen if my flash powder ignited. I don’t want to find out. I threw out all my spray paint, my Testor’s paint thinner, and most other odd and flammable chemicals when I moved from my first apartment. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/68 "2025-01-07T02:19:30Z")
There appear to be different situations that need to be dealt with. 1. Something has cause two mini-explosions. This is bad and should be sorted ASAP. 2. You view Maintenance as inimical, and are unwilling deal with them unless you absolutely have to. This is one of those situations that reads like, “but—other than practice, which I’m not willing to do—how ELSE can I learn the violin?” There is a real, genuine, danger. This needs to take priority. Maintenance is not willing to change out the stove, now, TODAY? Find someone who is more effective than you are at dealing with recalcitrant organizational personnel, and deputize them to GET THIS SHIT DONE. Usually, that involves something like finding where they are, going there, and generally politely refusing to go away until they do something about the problem. A request is easy to ignore. A person standing in front of you, less so. I guess I just don’t understand why you tolerate these conditions. I understand a marginal existence, where the fear of eviction prevents you from mentioning little things, and I read the past history where they have refused simple and legally mandated repairs. I get it. But this seems considerably more important. If your mail gets stolen, they don’t care. If your apartment gets blown up, that affects their bottom line in an immediate and drastic way, and they will care. If the fire department didn’t see a fire hazard, I can’t pretend that I know more than they do. But I couldn’t rest knowing something was causing flames in what is ultimately a flammable living environment. Okay, my very long 2ȼ. I’m out. ---
**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 7, 2025, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/69 "2025-01-07T02:56:35Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > There appear to be different situations that need to be dealt with. > > 1. Something has cause two mini-explosions. This is bad and should be sorted ASAP. > 2. > 3. You view Maintenance as inimical, and are unwilling deal with them unless you absolutely have to. So far, you seem to have an excellent grasp of the situation. > [@Dr.Drake](#): > > There is a real, genuine, danger. This needs to take priority. I agree with this. > [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Maintenance is not willing to change out the stove, now, TODAY? You lost me here. There is no evidence that the problem is caused by the stove. There is evidence the stove is NOT the problem. The gas to the stove was shut off in October. Before leaving, the workers verified there was no longer a leak. The team from the gas company that came today couldn’t find a leak. Why do you think replacing the stove will fix the problem? I am very concerned about whatever happened (twice) in my kitchen today. I called the gas company. I called the fire department. The gas company ruled out a gas leak. The fire department ruled out bad wiring. I now know it isn’t either of those. I still do not know what happened or how to keep it from happening again. ---
**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 7, 2025, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/70 "2025-01-07T03:12:57Z")
One final post for the night, when the second incident occured I saw flames. It was just an instant. But it was definitely a brief flame. I was talking to my beloved, as I do every night. She suggested I order a small multi purpose fire extinguisher from Aamzon. She found something not too big, effective for any type of fire likely to happen in my apartment, and very affordable. I am going to sleep now. ---
**Author:** ![Sandra\_Battye](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sandra_battye/32/552_2.png) [@Sandra\_Battye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandra_Battye)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/71 "2025-01-07T03:36:46Z")
I don’t remember if you said where the fireball seemed to be located? Did it seem to be in the kitchen entrance, in the middle of the room, by a wall, the stove, refrigerator, or sink? Up near the ceiling or down near the floor? How big is the kitchen? Any windows or doors near by? How big was the fireball (size of a golf ball, baseball, basketball, larger) and how loud? I don’t have any ideas but maybe more details would trigger a new thought. And I would be very concerned about someone cooking meth in the building but I don’t know what that would look or smell like. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/72 "2025-01-07T04:32:56Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > You have stated that you declined the offer of a new oven. Replacing the oven may cure the problem, or they may find the cause when they replace it. But you don’t want maintenace people in your appartment. Good luck on your explosions. There seem to be other issues at work here. > > I am done with advice. Just for the record, @DocCathode (hopefully getting good sleep) has had a really shitty couple of months to a year, complete with rat infested apartments, family, and the rest. First prior thread: > [@I Need Some Cheering Up](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-cheering-up/1000174): > > I’m not sleeping well. I have no energy. I haven’t had the energy to play a videogame or read a comic in months. My 80 year-old mom is declining. Based on her health, I’d long expected her to die suddenly. Now, it looks like we’ll all have the fun of a slow and horible decline. My gf is visiting her brother and his family in Florida. Her brother is defective and devoid of love\*. She worries that she will be shut out of the lives of her niece and nephew. The whole visit will bring her down. It … Then came August when they moved to the new (presumably this) apartment. Upon which they’ve gotten endless negative help on the building issues, such as he touched on upthread. Second prior thread: > [@Furious At My New Landlords! They Won't Make Repairs!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furious-at-my-new-landlords-they-wont-make-repairs/1007493): > > I was finally able to move out of my old apartment. It was rodent infested, in a high crime neighborhood, 500 something feet (as opposed to the apartment in Somerton which was almost 800), yet the rent ws more each month than my old apartment in Somerton- plus gas and water. I noted when we first began moving stuff into my new place in University City that there were some problems that maintenance needed to address- One of the three bulbs in the bathroom fixture was out. I was unsure whether I … So yes, Doc has been battling the landlord, while NOT being in a position to lose the lease for 4ish incredibly stressful months, and that’s not counting the election! Now, I’ll give you that you may not have _known_ any of this, if you haven’t seen any of the prior recent threads on DocCathode’s unpleasant adventures. And if you feel you can’t honestly help, that’s _also_ fine, but for the sake for a decent person suffering in difficult circumstances, dial back the hostility please. There’s actual reasons behind him not trusting the landlord’s staff! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/73 "2025-01-07T04:42:21Z")
Good post. I’m sure Doc will appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/74 "2025-01-07T05:38:37Z")
It seems unlikely to me that it’s a natural gas leak. The gas company and fire department have both looked for a leak and couldn’t find one. I assume they used gas detectors. Also, if there were a leak big enough to cause even small explosions, you would smell it. And finally, gas diffuses. I wouldn’t expect an explosion from a gas leak to be some small localized thing. BTW, you can buy your own gas leak detector. They sell them at Home Depot. Amazon also sells them, but I’d guess you don’t want to wait for delivery. Hydrogen burns with a pale blue flame. That the flames were orange suggests it’s not hydrogen. You’ve seen this happen twice. Was it in the same location both times? Was it near your stove, or an electrical outlet, or one of your boxes? A furnace or air duct? Could it be something other than flammable gas, like flour in the air (or some other kind of flammable dust)? ---
**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 7, 2025, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/75 "2025-01-07T05:55:22Z")
Honestly, I feel for Doc. I’ve lamented his troubles for months. I just don’t know how we can help him. Other than suggest he move out. That doesn’t seem to be an alternative. In the end he’s gotta make some kind of move. Really, hire a lawyer. Take it to small claims. Write a nasty letter to the local newspaper. Round up other like tenants, have a sit in. I don’t know. I wouldn’t be sleeping calmly in the next room. I know that. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/76 "2025-01-07T08:50:35Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > The workers who found the first gas leak and shut off the gas to the oven said it was an internal leak. Is the gas to the oven absolutely, for sure and definitely completely shut off? Only asking because it’s something _someone else did, or said they did._ Are the oven (the bit with a door) and the cooktop (where the pans go) separate appliances? If so (and assuming they are both gas powered), they will have somewhat independent gas supplies, possibly with separate isolation valves; are they _both_ shut off? ---
**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 7, 2025, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/77 "2025-01-07T12:52:53Z")
Thanks @ParallelLines ! **Mangetout** Yes, the gas to the oven is definitely off. The team from the gas company confirmed that before they left yesterday. The oven and stove top are one appliance. When I called the gas company yesterday, I was sure it was another gas leak. I was stunned and horrified when they said it was not. A gas leak would have been a relatively quick and easy fix. It would have cost me nothing. I still do not know what happened or what to do. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > wouldn’t be sleeping calmly in the next room. I know that. I do sleep in the living room, which is next to the kitchen. I certainly did not sleep calmly last night. I slept quite poorly. I woke up often, feeling very anxious. I want very much to fix whatever the problem is. I still do not know what happened. This makes it difficult to figure out what to do. I am not calm. I am utterly terrified. If I had any idea what action to take, I would take it. I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/78 "2025-01-07T13:16:03Z")
Any chance it could be sewer gas coming up through a dry trap or break in the line somewhere? I would expect you’d be able to smell it before it got to that point, but a lot of people don’t recognize that smell right away. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/79 "2025-01-07T13:23:06Z")
Running with the sewer gas idea - that suggests a possible action to take. As I understand it, one of the purposes of the traps in various plumbing fixtures is to hold water, which acts as a barrier against gasses backing up into the residence. You could run a reasonable amount of water through every drain and make sure those traps are filled. I imagine if you have something that isn’t used often, or if there is a leak in the wrong spot, you could have a dry trap. ---
**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 7, 2025, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647/80 "2025-01-07T13:34:28Z")
I suppose it coud be sewer gas. I’ll try running the faucet in the kitchen sink. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647.md?page=5)