Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Latest Breaking News
In reply to the discussion: Multiple Suspected Gas Explosions In Lawrence, Andover And North Andover [View all]ProfessorGAC
(65,029 posts)37. Almost No Appliances Have Pilot Lights Anymore
We are all gas. Stove, dryer, water heater, home heat. They're are all spark ignited. When the demand valve opens a sparker fires. A thermocouple reads a rise in heat (meaning there is a live heater fire) and the sparker turns off.
There is timer in the logic that if the thermocouple doesn't detect heat within a few seconds, it shuts the gas valve again.
Some of our stuff is "newish" but the water heater is at least 15 years old and it works the same way.
The concern you expressed, completely valid, has been engineered out of most systems like that today.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
44 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Multiple Suspected Gas Explosions In Lawrence, Andover And North Andover [View all]
smirkymonkey
Sep 2018
OP
8 people died in the San Bruno, California, gas pipeline explosion in 2010
Bernardo de La Paz
Sep 2018
#6
I photographed a similar incident 45 years ago in London, Ontario in Canada
The_jackalope
Sep 2018
#18
Thanks, sounds like parts of them are - regulators, some remotely controlled
bucolic_frolic
Sep 2018
#26
A cautionary tale for everyone. We live nearby this disaster and are anxiously following
FailureToCommunicate
Sep 2018
#36
It still looks like off ramps are closed at Mass Ave (N. Andover), Salem Tpk, and Rt 28 in
FailureToCommunicate
Sep 2018
#42