Gas leak! Everyone OK!

[Flboy]

I have a gas stove!
Well, normal morning with JoJo, I am in and out of the kitchen, all appears normal. I decided to go out back with the dogs and then got distracted moving tree limbs to an area near the fence. At that point, I either go around through the gate, or cut through the house, thank God, I chose the house!
Walking in, I got hit with the unmistakable smell of gas! Running to the stove, I found a burner on, unlit! I then grabbed JoJo, put him in his outside cage and ran out! Then doors open, fans on high, we hung outside!
The fear, looking over to his cage, well, you know!
We are all back in now, and all seems good!
Now for the mystery! The last time I used the stove was two days ago! I was gone most of yesterday. That burner is a very low temp burner, turned down is not much more than a pilot light! If left on, still lit, I should have seen it when I turned out the lights, either night! Wife came over with me for a little bit yesterday, she triple checks everything I do! If on and out, I should have picked up on the smell sooner! Why no buildup yesterday while not home?
Someone was watching out for my stupidity!

 

[Terry57]

First, thank goodness you are all okay!
That is really strange, could something have bumped up against the switch turning it on?
What a scary morning & thank goodness you chose the house when you did!

 

[Allee]

David, I’m so thankful everyone is safe. It does sound like someone is watching over you. Good grief, that’s no way to start a morning. The mystery of how it happened may remain a mystery but I’m so glad it ended well and you discovered it when you did.

 

[dhraiden]

Phew! Glad Jojo is OK. BC they often look after my fids when I'm away, I try to always remind my parents to ensure the stove is off and look after similarly easily-forgotten things. Both myself and my SO have burned metal teapots this way, too. Constant mindfulness is a must, but it's only mentally wearying if you let it be -- I have a quick checklist I usually tick-off by going around touching the stove knobs, checking windows etc before I head out most days.

 

[Jen5200]

Wow, so glad that worked out okay!

 

[Flboy]

Everything points to me! That was the burner I was using to melt butter, so it was set to low! Dogs could have turned it, but unlikely all the way around to low! The crazy, young dog was outside with me, and I had nothing tempting around the stove! Because I now live alone, I am very conscious of any odors walking in! When I came home yesterday, I smelled something ‘strange’, it triggered a dental flashback as a kid! I was going to ask the wife what she thought it was, but by the time she walked it, I forgot!

 

[JuicyNip]

Whew! Glad everything is okay now. I can relate to that awful feeling of panic you must have felt.

About 2 months ago, I was relaxing when suddenly a carbon monoxide detection alarm went off here in the house. I quickly plopped my bird in his "outside" cage and put him on the patio, then went back inside to get my phone when a second CO detection alarm went off. (The original home owners put 3 in the house.) I took out the batteries, but sat outside with the bird until my spouse got home. The next day, the 3rd alarm went off and I put the bird outside (just to be on the safe side) and we all came back inside after about 15 minutes and I'd pulled the battery out of the 3rd alarm.
But the adrenaline rush when that alarm goes off is terrible.

 

[SailBoat]

It is one of the serious down falls of gas stove tops. The valve control handles on 'some' units turn far easier than is safe. A simple bump against the handle and they can turn-on.
It is truly sad since the industry has long had the push and turn style, which are much harder to turn-on. It should be one of those industry requirements that the simple /easy turn valves are no longer used.
Check your stove top valves to verify, which style you have.
Commonly, even a small leak will provide enough 'smell' for one to identify it as Natural Gas. It is well worth your effort to contact your Gas Supplier and have them check the percentage of detection chemical as it arrives at your home. Variations can occur.
I'm so happy to hear that JoJo and you are all right.

 

[SailBoat]

Whew! Glad everything is okay now. I can relate to that awful feeling of panic you must have felt.

About 2 months ago, I was relaxing when suddenly a carbon monoxide detection alarm went off here in the house. I quickly plopped my bird in his "outside" cage and put him on the patio, then went back inside to get my phone when a second CO detection alarm went off. (The original home owners put 3 in the house.) I took out the batteries, but sat outside with the bird until my spouse got home. The next day, the 3rd alarm went off and I put the bird outside (just to be on the safe side) and we all came back inside after about 15 minutes and I'd pulled the battery out of the 3rd alarm.
But the adrenaline rush when that alarm goes off is terrible.

Check the age of your carbon monoxide detection alarms. They have a real shelf life for safe operation, but sadly do not clearly define that time period very well. If your units are over ten years old, you are nearing or past the safe operation period of some units (smoke and carbon monoxide units). These are one of those few things in which you get what you pay for!


FYI: There are disagreements as to whether the combined units (both smoke and monoxide) are a wise choice.

At this point, my recommendation is that if you start getting alarms setting-off, have your home checked by a professional to determine if you have a faulty alarm(s) or a faulty mechanical unit.

You have had three units fail! That is very concerning!

 

[Ellie777Australia]

So glad that you are all ok David.

 

[Scott]

A great save, David! Glad everyone escaped safely!!

 

[LaManuka]

OMG!! I’m so happy everyone’s ok!!!

 

[JuicyNip]

Check the age of your carbon monoxide detection alarms. They have a real shelf life for safe operation, but sadly do not clearly define that time period very well. If your units are over ten years old, you are nearing or past the safe operation period of some units (smoke and carbon monoxide units). These are one of those few things in which you get what you pay for!


FYI: There are disagreements as to whether the combined units (both smoke and monoxide) are a wise choice.

At this point, my recommendation is that if you start getting alarms setting-off, have your home checked by a professional to determine if you have a faulty alarm(s) or a faulty mechanical unit.

You have had three units fail! That is very concerning!

Appreciate the info. You're right. Spouse checked it out. They were +10 year old monitors with batteries at least 5 years old; and they all set off within 24 hours of each other. The new monitor says everything is clear.

And, OP, my apologies for sidetracking your thread.