Flammable Water!

Unknown · August 2006

Its more common than u think, esp in the mining area.. Here in Illinois, more common in western part of the state and the dept of health have a drawing how to get rid of the exposvise gas safety with approved equipment... Words to the wise, always make sure the ventings of such equipment are bled outside... Was told a story about know-it-all city slickers moved to the country and didn't believe those two "candy cane" pipes on top of the outside well pit was for safety and ventation, so he capped them off. Short while later, the top blew off and landed nearby him. The methane gas was building up til the spark from the pump switch inigited the blast off...

singh · August 2006

Methane gas in well water

I went to do some more work on a new home job I did last winter. I was surprised when I walked into the mech. room. A jumble of tanks and pumps all over the place.
After talking with the homeowner , turns out the water had methane gas in solution. And when you opened a tap or filled a glass of water it looked like alka-seltzer. You could put a match to it and it would light. His well was 650' deep. I never heard of this before, and when I installed the fixtures and heating system, I never noticed anything. I guess the tanks percolate the water to remove the gas, which gets vented out of the mech. room by the way.
Today I thought about the GB142 , and hope water quality won't be an issue with the aluminum block, but sinced its a closed loop , I guess the gas stays in solution.??? I do remember purging system took a while though.

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pipewrench_6 · August 2006

In western ny

Its quite common. "piss poor well drilling" (the gas wells, not the water wells) is what the oil man from oklahoma said. Cost many home owners lots of money and more. Knew a guy who had to abandon his house.

hr · August 2006

Too bad

it's not a gas well! Any way to keep the gas after it comes out?

I grew up in WNY and a bunch of friends and neighbors had gas wells on their property.

I went to school with a handful of kids that were from a gas well drilling family.

hot rod

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Mitch_4 · August 2006

Here is something else to consider too

I had a home about 10 years ago with Methane in the water, unknown to the HO. There was an accumulation at the top of the gas fired HWH and then the relief valve popped. PURE methane hit the floor during a call for heat and ignited..blew the top right off the tank..

So watch the relief piping too!

Perry_2 · August 2006

Recovery Options

If there is that much methane - would't it be worth recovering?

It takes a bit more equipement - but running the water through a vacuum degassing chamber to remove the methane - and then use the methane to run a small eletric generator, or for other things once collected. They probably can't store much - but there might be enough for perhaps domestic hot water.

Perry

Mark Hunt · August 2006

Gassy water

Had a situation here a couple years ago, not Methane though, it was CO2. BAD CO2.

The HO could bottle this water and sell it to local pubs for club soda.

The problems didn't start until the system fired up. The CO2 would come out of solution and lock everything up. Luckily, they had an alternate well that did not have the issue and we purged the system with that source.

It was a PITA for a while though.

Good luck Devan.

Mark H

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Flammable Water!

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