Gas Explosion at my house tonight...

[ab620]

Have you filed an insurance claim yet?

[sheehs1]

Oh Wow. So sorry you guys had this happen. I am afraid of gas and don't have it in my home but did replace gas logs in the new condo I bought this summer with a wireless remote to turn it on and off. There is a CO detector.
This would be my worst fear. Again, Yikes and glad no one was hurt.

[ivinsfan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by davebarnes Jøtul and not Jotul.

There's always at least one in every thread...

[ivinsfan]

Glad no one was hurt and I hope you can get some answers about what happened.

[wmc1000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazz4cash Glad no one was hurt. Very scary. What are you going to do? Sounds like calling someone (other than the guys that recently serviced it) would be in order. We have a gas log fireplace and the flame goes out sometimes and then re-lights 10-20 minutes later. I assume the oxygen depletion sensor (ODS) or an overtemp sensor is being triggered but I have not been able to confirm anything. Since it is about 20 years old, I started having it serviced the last 2 years. The guys that serviced it just look at me like I have 3 heads when I describe this issue. Last year it continued to flame out occasionally but this year it has been OK since the last service. The guy they sent seemed to be a bit more experienced and claimed the unit was in excellent condition.

Jazz, we have a gas fireplace that had the same issue. After tinkering around I found that behind the upper vent are 2 "covers" that look like a metal plate with about 1/2" of insulation below that are on hinges. I vacuumed around each to remove accumulated dust as I thought maybe they allow air into the firebox. Since then no issues with the fireplace going out due to lack of oxygen setting off the sensor and I now vacuum the "inlets" when cold weather starts approaching.

[ERD50]

I'd also contact the manufacturer. I'm sure they will respond, regardless of whether you refer to them as Jøtul or Jotul.

PS: another way to use all the special characters which doesn't change with OS or keyboard, is to create a text document with all of them (pretty easy to find with a search of Unicode ), and then just copy/paste them into whatever you are writing.

-ERD50

[haha]

Very glad you are all ok, no fire, etc.

Might you look unto a pellet stove? Although it is perhaps possible to get a pellet explosion, it is much less likely than a gas explosion.

Ha

[braumeister]

FWIW, if you're on a Mac, just hold down the letter in question and you'll get a popup like this:
Screen Shot 2017-12-21 at 2.29.58 PM.png

Then just type (in this case) "6" and the appropriate ø is produced.

[Christine]

What do you expect when buying an oven named Jøtul?

It means giant troll in norwegian - and I think you got trolled!


Seriously I'm glad nobody was hurt. And I'm surprised to learn that Jøtul make gas ovens. Over here they are best known for their wood burners.

[pb4uski]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivinsfan There's always at least one in every thread...

+ Just what I was thinking... the poor OP's stove just blew up and someone can focus on is whether the "o" in Jøtul has a line through it or not. [MOD EDIT]

[jazz4cash]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmc1000 Jazz, we have a gas fireplace that had the same issue. After tinkering around I found that behind the upper vent are 2 "covers" that look like a metal plate with about 1/2" of insulation below that are on hinges. I vacuumed around each to remove accumulated dust as I thought maybe they allow air into the firebox. Since then no issues with the fireplace going out due to lack of oxygen setting off the sensor and I now vacuum the "inlets" when cold weather starts approaching.

Thank you for this. I guess the service tech that came out last time must have done a better job cleaning this area. If you don't mind, what brand is your unit? Id like to look it up and compare it to our Heatilator B-vent unit (think thats what they call it).

As for OP's issue, his unit has a pilot (like mine). It will be interesting to determine what malfunctioned.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazz4cash ... As for OP's issue, his unit has a pilot (like mine). It will be interesting to determine what malfunctioned.

While pilot lights are typically very reliable (they've been around for ages), they usually don't have a full feedback mechanism, so you can have a problem like this.

The thermocouple will shut things down if it isn't sensing heat from the pilot. But typically, if that is sensed OK, it is just assumed that once the main gas valve is opened, that it will be lit by the pilot. But I've had some problems where the shroud around the pilot wasn't sitting right, or the pilot tube was out of alignment, and the gas just didn't flow well enough to the flame to light right away. So sometimes it would light late, and you could get a little 'boom'. It could get worse.

My new water heater actually has an igniter for the pilot, then that ignites the main burner. There is a sensor in there, and it will retry a few times, then shut down with a warning light flashing. Not sure if the sensor is on the pilot or the main flame or both.

-ERD50

[freedomatlast]

Was this a vented or ventless stove?

[rayinpenn]

1) stove is vented
2) stove is for heat not an oven
3)spoke to Jotul sales rep for Pa this morning..trying to find a shop that will repair the unit.
4)ill wait few days then see who i can find to fix it...
5) rep told me what a service should consist of none of these things were done...
6)if pilot isnt cleaned it may not be sufficient to ignite stove ... could explain what happened...

Not sure what else i can do...

[rayinpenn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERD50 I've had some problems where the shroud around the pilot wasn't sitting right, or the pilot tube was out of alignment, and the gas just didn't flow well enough to the flame to light right away. So sometimes it would light late, and you could get a little 'boom'. It could get worse. -ERD50

I think this exactly what happened...
Thanks Buddy.

[braumeister]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayinpenn 5) rep told me what a service should consist of none of these things were done...

Ray, I think you're right that your local dealer is most likely the one at fault. Jøtul doesn't seem to vet their dealers very carefully.

About ten years ago in another house, I bought a Jøtul wood burning fireplace insert. When the crew came to install it, it took hardly any time for me to realize they were clueless about what they were doing. After a couple of hours I had to kick them out and finished the installation myself. I don't even want to think about how concerned I would have been with a gas installation.

[HGTVfan]

I'm very glad that you and your family are OK.

Gas has always scared me.

[wmc1000]

Jazz - we have the Superior brand SSDVT- gas fireplace. The builder had already put in the added the internal outlet for power so I added the blower unit to move the heat out into the room.

From looking online the plates I described in my previous post are "relief plates" to prevent pressurization from occurring. Don't know how much air the relief plates let in, if any but keeping them vacuumed once a year has prevented the oxygen sensor from shutting down the logs. Ours has a pilot light also.

I can see where pressure relief plates would also keep the glass front from blowing out like the Ops stove did if the gas did not light immediately although with a fireplace it is just an on/off switch rather than a thermostat so it doesn't turn itself off and on.

[rayinpenn]

I finally talked to the dealer that sold me the Jøtul; I was surprised to learn Jøtul North America called him and ordered a new glass. The dealer was going to send his installer to repair the unit and check my other stove.

Just maybe it will be fixed and I’ll be good to go.. I’ll be watching it carefully.