We have had two homes in my area explode, in as many weeks, due to snow covered gas meters. One home was occupied at the time, the other was not. Fortunately there were only minor injuries incurred in the occupied home.

I have lived in this area for a long time and have seen many heavy snows, but this is the first I have heard of snow impacted gas meters causing gas explosions. As a result, the local fire marshal has been encouraging everyone who has an outside gas meter to make sure their gas meter is clear of snow.

The natural question is why?

link

"In a Facebook post, the Madison Fire Department wrote "large amounts of snow can put heavy weight and pressure on the pipes which ultimately causes them to break and fail. "In both home explosions, there was 10+ ft or more of snow on the gas meter.""

Devising a way to keep the snow of our gas meters in Michigan will be another project this summer.

10 Ft of snow on a meter, perhaps also creating a gas pocket where there was a leak previously undetected?

When I first read this I thought ... WTF, then I decided to google and found this :

https://dps.mn.gov/blog/Pages/...-meter-ice-snow.aspx

I had no idea, and learned a valuable lesson today.

If you use propane and have a regulator on the outside of the house where the line enters, you need to keep this clear, too.

quote:

Originally posted by old dino:
When I first read this I thought ... WTF, then I decided to google and found this :

https://dps.mn.gov/blog/Pages/...-meter-ice-snow.aspx

I had no idea, and learned a valuable lesson today.

That's good to know!

Mine is 5 feet above the ground and in an area where wind and sun cuts down the snow cover around it. I can always smell a little gas around it, so I am glad it is where it is.

quote:

Originally posted by old dino:
learned a valuable lesson today.

Me, too! Thank you, ggile.

Not enough snow here for that but ice storms will. Always something I kept an eye on.