Things I need to know? --216.23.xxx.xx

One time the owner across the street from my 4 unit replaced a water heater in a tenants laundry room. The gas cock was old a defective, but the old owner didn't want to spend $12 for a new one. So I started to smell gas from across the street. Ran over to the building and smelled gas seeping out of the back door. Before I called the fire department, I had a cellphone built into my van, I shut off all gas and power to that property and made the tenants exit. Had a tenant in that unit flipped on a light switch, the building would have blown up. --47.155.xx.xxx

Thanks Robert, the contractor is a plumber/HVAC man. My handyman did do a leak check at install. He did not check the entire pipe in basement away from the heater. I now want someone who is licensed as a plumber to go over the entire setup. --216.23.xxx.xx

Last month bought a furnace from a contractor where noticed on the old furnace that smelled gas near the gas valve. After sending a few emails to the contractor that wanted furnace changed ASAP where when contractors came told them about gas smell near gas valve where when contractors removed old furnace they said the gas pipe was hand tightened where a wrench should have been used. Not knowing if the gas was leaking or the pipe was leaking. Surface rust can be cleaned up with wire brush where it is rare the pipe will rust through. Black iron is very cheap where can buy at most big box stores for 5 dollars or less depending on the length of pipe. When the furnace was replaced supplied new CVPC piping along with a new concentric vent as ABS pipe is not allowed on new installations so the exhaust and air intake was all replaced where it is very rare for ABS to fail with a high efficiency furnace. Most common problem is there a leak on the threads of the gas pipes where new pipe joint along with tightening up the fitting then checking for a gas leak with a soap test where no bubbles no troubles. --99.236.xxx.xxx

BRAD --73.102.xxx.xxx

all I can say is WOW --73.61.xx.xx

In Maine a licensed gas contractor is required for all gas work. However, that doesn’t always happen. One day, while working at HD, I assisted a customer who was getting ready to install a gas stove. He clearly knew nothing, and his assistant (me), knew even less. I called for someone from plumbing to assist him. I’m surprised I didn’t hear about some sort of incident in the next few weeks. I don’t dabble where I know nothing. --70.16.xxx.xxx

A couple years ago in a local city a guy messed with a gas boiler and didnt know what he was doing and the house and houses on both sides were destroyed by the blast. Myth busters created a situation where they intentionally blew up a water heater and it flew in a air through a floor and a roof for an incredible distance before it came down --72.231.xxx.xxx

Thanks Brad, I bought a gas sniffer to arrive Wed. Yes we install our own gas water heaters, stoves, and even wall furnaces, but not central heat. My current handyman works with his cousin a lot who is a certified plumber, and he has been with me 6 years. The water company today came for a leak check as the old water heater blew a big water leak through the control panel and the first sign of trouble was a high water bill. The water company guys did not smell anything, but I still can. We are venting the basement and I have three plumbing companies I have worked with contacted. Only one call returned and they cannot come before Friday. Nothing found today with soap film. --216.23.xxx.xx

Columbia Gas Explosion in Lawrence County. On Sept 13, 2018, Columbia Gas accidentally over-pressurized a gas main that fed thousands of homes throughout Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover counties. The over-pressurization of the gas main resulted in explosions and fires that killed one person, sent 22 others to the hospital, damaged 131 structures, and destroyed at least five homes. 30,000 customers were forced to evacuate their homes and seek shelter elsewhere due to unsafe conditions --71.174.xxx.xx

Steve,I remember seeing that on the news --72.231.xxx.xxx

Steve, I was on duty and we were sent to Lawrence to assist with the resulting fires! As soon as we knocked 1 fire down we were sent to another location. I don’t think people realize what it took to get that event under control. There were fire departments from all over MA and NH. --173.48.xxx.xxx

I read not to long ago that that event potentially could cost NiiSource (Columbia Gas’s parent company), 1 BILLION dollars! --173.48.xxx.xxx

My 2nd contractor I contacted called back and came at 1530. We went to basement, we both smelled gas, and he found a leak. Leak was at the connection low and right at gas input to heater. Leak was repaired and we went out to gab for about 10 minutes and both went in and neither of us smelled gas. I have rechecked twice since and it smells like a slight basement odor. Rechecking in early am and I have a second contractor who was coming at 10 tomorrow. I will cancel him if it stays normal. Plumber tonight said pipes look OK to him. It was my handyman not double checking his work when he leak checked. I will continue to ventilate basement until Wed. Will spend rest of month checking all my gas lines in 9 units with gas. --216.23.xxx.xx

Not calling a licensed professional in GAS GAS GAS is simply astronomically #^%*$^^#^* --73.61.xx.xx